My Favorite $5 Italian Pasta Is Finally Available in the U.S. (I’m Buying Box After Box)

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overhead shot of penne alla vodka in a pan.

Credit: Photo: Vicky Wasik ; Food Stylist: Rachel Perlmutter

I love a bowl of gluten-packed pasta as much as anyone. I’ve been a member of running teams since high school, and wouldn’t qualify if I didn’t embrace a hearty pasta dinner. So I’m generally skeptical of pasta alternatives made with legumes and other non-wheat grains. Pasta is great as it is (and I don’t have an intolerance), so why mess with it?

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That said, I was intrigued by a box of red pasta in a white and green box: Felicia Red Lentil Penne is an organic, gluten-free pasta made in Italy. I was feeling open-minded and decided to try it. Long story short, I was impressed.

Red lentil penne.

Credit: Lizzy Briskin

What’s So Great About Felicia Red Lentil Penne?

This pasta is made from a single ingredient: organic red lentils. It’s widely distributed in Italy and became available in the United States in select stores last winter, like Eataly and in bulk-size boxes at Costco. I’ve tried several other varieties of legume-based pasta, and I love that Felicia’s penne holds its shape like the ones made with a high-gluten semolina flour.

As long as you follow the clear cooking instructions on the box, you’ll have delightfully al dente noodles that don’t turn to mush under the weight of a wooden spoon. The tubes stay crisp, but they’re not woody. I also enjoyed the nuttier lentil flavor. This is an excellent alternative to wheat-based pasta that even gluten-lovers like myself can enjoy.

Felicia Gluten-Free Organic Red Lentil Penne

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$4 (was $5)

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What’s the Best Way to Enjoy Felicia Lentil Penne?

Because this gluten-free pasta is as sturdy as the penne you know and love, you can pile on the sauce with abandon — sauce-drenched is my personal favorite way to enjoy pasta. While other bean-based noodles wilt under a meaty Bolognese or rich mushroom ragù, Felicia stands her ground. Plus, the penne’s natural ridges are ideal for soaking up globs of sauce.

If you prefer a lighter dish, the noodles are just as friendly with a thin marinara (jarred is more-than-just-fine) or clingy pesto. I recommend serving the noodles hot and saucy rather than as a chilled pasta salad — they do get slightly gummier as they cool.

Buy: Felicia Red Lentil Penne, $5 for 8.8 ounces at Eataly

Do you have a favorite gluten-free pasta at the grocery store? Tell us about it in the comments below.