Did You Know You Can Try the World’s Rarest Pasta Right Here in Malaysia?

When we talk about pasta, names like Spaghetti, Fettuccine, Macaroni and Penne are usually among the first that come to mind. While these varieties can be found in supermarkets around the world, one type of pasta is so rare that it is often considered the ultimate "unicorn" of the pasta world.

And the best part? You can enjoy this rare delicacy right here in Malaysia.

The Su Filindeu

So, what makes Su Filindeu so rare and different from other types of pasta?

The answer lies in how difficult and time-consuming it is to prepare. In fact, for around 300 years, only the women of a single family in Sardinia knew how to make it.

The name Su Filindeu translates to "the threads of God", and true to its name, the pasta is made by repeatedly pulling and folding semolina dough into 256 perfectly even strands using only the fingertips. It is then stretched diagonally across a circular frame in an intricate three-layer pattern.

The method is so complex and labour-intensive that, for the past 200 years, the dish has only been served to those who complete a 33km pilgrimage on foot or horseback from Nuoro to the village of Lula during the biannual Feast of San Francesco.

Image Credit: BBC

In a 2016 interview with the BBC, Paola Abraini, one of the handful of people in the world who knows how to make this exceptionally rare pasta, said there are only three ingredients needed to make Su Filindeu: semolina wheat, water and salt.

However, because every step is done by hand, the most important ingredient is arguably elbow grease.

Abraini explained that the dough must be worked thoroughly until it reaches a consistency similar to modelling clay. It is then divided into smaller portions before being rolled into cylindrical shapes.

The most difficult part, according to Abraini, is a process she describes as "understanding the dough with your hands".

"It can take years to understand. It's like a game with your hands. But once you achieve it, then the magic happens."

On the brink of extinction

Image Credit: We the Italians

Because the knowledge of making Su Filindeu has traditionally been passed down through a single matrilineal family line, the pasta is considered one of the foods most at risk of disappearing.

Recognising this problem, Abraini began teaching other girls in Nuoro how to make the pasta, something that was previously unheard of as the recipe had long been closely guarded by her family.

The result, however, was disappointing.

"It didn't go well. The problem was that once they saw how I actually do it, they'd say, 'it's just too much work' and wouldn't come back."

Despite the initial setback, Abraini refused to let the tradition die.

In recent years, Italy's premier food and wine magazine, Gambero Rosso, invited her to Rome on two occasions to film the preparation of Su Filindeu. She has also continued making the rare pasta for several restaurants in the region.

Abraini's efforts to preserve the family tradition appear to have paid off. Today, Su Filindeu is served in only a handful of countries worldwide, including Malaysia.

Where can you enjoy Su Filindeu in Malaysia?

In a post on Threads, a Cheras-based Malaysian business revealed that it had successfully recreated the rare pasta.

However, L'Osteria e Cucina stressed that the tradition and recipe belong to the people of Sardinia, and that its role is simply to help preserve the craft.

As for where you can enjoy this delicacy, only one restaurant in Malaysia currently serves Su Filindeu, and it's located in Pusat Bandar Damansara.

Image Credit: Eat Drink KL

Nero Nero serves Su Filindeu in lamb broth, topped with Pecorino cheese. A review described the dish as "turning an austere ancient craft into warmly sustaining immersion."

Before making a trip to try the dish, note that Su Filindeu is not a permanent menu item. It is typically offered only as part of the restaurant's limited-time Sardinian menus.

For more information, check out the restaurant's website or Instagram page.

Featured Image Credit: @losteriaecucina | Threads, @eatdrinksklcom | Instagram