Candele Lunghe are a traditional pasta shape from southern Italy which historically was very popular in the Naples area. The name and shape comes from the candles that were carried during religious processions.

Candele, like Ziti e Zitoni, need to be broken up by hand into irregular pieces before being put in the saucepan to cook.

Candele are excellent for making elaborate oven-baked dishes.

This pasta goes really well with vegetable sauces, prepared with tomato sauce with olives and capers or enhanced with courgettes, aubergines, peppers and other vegetables.