Three Sicilian grannies make taccuna pasta with cabbage! | Pasta Grannies

Enjoy the banter between old friends Grazia, Maria and Nina. They are sharing their recipe for Sicilian taccuna pasta - broken up pieces of pasta sfoglia or pasta sheet - which is added to cabbage and seasoned with chilli.
The pasta is 500g durum wheat flour, 3 eggs and 120ml of water.
The soup is: one cabbage, sliced, its cooking water, salt and chilli pepper.
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[@martinaj.9266]

I love this channel. It's not only about rare recipes that may be forgotten in our modern world. It's also about the grannies and their personality. I feel like a family member when watching the videos.

[@pastagrannies]

That's good to hear and thank you 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@CHCLA6779]

What beautiful ladies. I imagine they have debated everything, their whole lives. What a joy it would be to learn all about them and their lives. This was amazing, as always. Thank you, Pasta Grannies.

[@emmayoung3355]

Debated is putting it lightly!

[@emmylou-y4b]

Ha! I agree!@@emmayoung3355

[@pastagrannies]

It's our pleasure 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@brucetidwell7715]

They reminded me of older versions of the three life long friends in the American movie "Steel Magnolias."

[@suzaynnschick158]

This is straight-up poverty food: flour, water, salt and cabbage. I've not seen a more frugal dish on this channel. Thank you for finding and sharing these fine women and their recipe.

[@beth12svist]

"Potatoes and cabbage, a whole living," a Moravian Wallachian saying goes. (It rhymes in the original Czech dialect.) Obviously this is a recipe that does not get its carbs from potatoes, but it's definitely the same peasant food principle, and I was indeed thinking it when watching it.

[@scottamori3188]

Episodes like these are among my favorites when the ladies have been friends for decades. Their banter and interactions are heartwarming. The dish alone is worth a video but these women make it special. Thanks for another great episode!

[@kellybryson7754]

Love the way. They are "debating" through the whole video.

[@dkzmom]

They’re so funny, how they seem to yell at each other. But you can tell they love each other.

[@elisaastorino2881]

That's my entire extended family, us here in America and the ones in Italy!

[@flaviomongiovi8105]

Sicilian friendship is about yelling, offending and sharing! It's our way to show love.

[@Changelingheart]

Reminds me of how my aunts and grandmother used to talk in the kitchen when putting a Holiday Meal put together!!

[@CrowSkeleton]

It is definitely the time of year for cabbage dishes and gosh but I could watch these three cook by committee all day...

[@didisinclair3605]

Oh I can just see in my mind's eye those three ladies as 8 year old girls, running and playing together!!!

[@daniellew.9957]

wish i could like this a million times!!!

[@sarahp1383]

Loved this video for the zesty way these 3 charming Nonas share the delicious Sicilian Tacuna pasta, bursting with flavour and the goodness of home grown cabbage which Nona Nina proudly claims her husband has cultivated on their land. Maria counters very firmly," It is CONTRADA". But Nina does not give in. And the friendly banter goes on. Later ,when Nina states that her bread has gone all the way to America, Maria gently pokes fun at her, saying, "And she is still here" All this is accepted with good grace and good cheer. Undoubtedly the pasta is a winner, but what made this video so enjoyable was their acceptance of each other, with so much love, respect and understanding. Nona Maria takes command of the cookery session from the word go. Nonas Grazia and Nina give her wonderful warm support. Thank you for a peek at the priceless, lace edged table cloth.

[@eclecticexplorer7828]

These ladies are a hoot!

[@onceuponastartv]

What gorgeous grannies! They remind me of my own Maltese granny. I so miss cooking with her. BTW, taccuna also means shoe heel. I suspect it;s because of the shape the pasta gets when it dries. Scanare also means to fall flat on your face, which is the motion the kneading makes.

[@pastagrannies]

Thank you for the fun insights! I'd love to film in Malta one day...🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@onceuponastartv]

@@pastagrannies I've lived in the UK for forty years. I'm a children's author but I have loads of contacts in Malta still. Hit me up when you want to go ahead. Maltese cooking is a mixture of Italian, Arabic with dollops of British. Best wishes, Saviour.

[@axion8788]

This just never gets old!

[@davefoodstories]

Grandissime nonne :) Grandissime nonne 😍

[@ydbetan]

lol the silence after Maria introduced herself was tooo adorable 😂

[@marisamarcelli1335]

Thanks for posting. My nonna Rosina, who survived two wars in Calabria, would prepare broccoli/cavoli she had grown by adding fettuccine. She would else prepare a broccoli dessert with the hard ends. Learned from her and the Grannies the genuine recipes and the virtue of make do.

[@pastagrannies]

hi Maria, broccoli stalk dessert sounds a bit surprising, what did it taste like? best wishes, Vicky

[@nildabridgeman8104]

I've got a miserable cold. This recipe would be just the thing to set me right 💕

[@pastagrannies]

I hope you are now better 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@nildabridgeman8104]

@@pastagrannies still struggling but getting better.. one day my girls & I will make this one but till then it's fun to watch 💐💖

[@auntgeriskitchen8238]

I love watching Pasta Grannies! Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful women and their pasta and traditions with us!❤😊

[@joybmassa]

I’m struck by these three friends and how their way of speaking with/over each other with such insistence and passion seems just so normal ! In my Italian-American family this is also normal… However… I’ve always noted how “polite” most all your other Pasta Grannies are speaking in front of the camera! (Just one-at-a-time ). LOL!

[@pastagrannies]

It really shows when the group being filmed are old friends - everyone is much more relaxed and forget the cameras. 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@mrjimbo15243]

These three have such chemistry.

[@kendrat8413]

I would love to just sit in the corner of that kitchen to watch and listen! ❤❤❤ The stories, wisdom and life lessons we could learn!!!

[@melaniefisher8823]

I love, and I mean LOVVVE THIS CHANNEL!!!!! I stop nearly everything when a new one comes out!! Best channel on KZbin hands down!!

[@pastagrannies]

ahh, thanks Melanie! I love it when I hear from super-fans of Pasta Grannies 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@nealieanderson512]

It looks so delicious!!!

[@pinkmonkeybird2644]

It is my wish that, if I were lucky enough to live as long as these lovely ladies, that I’ll still have my few lifelong friends at my side and we can debate everything under the moon and stars over cups of tea and bowls of pasta. I’m sure these ladies suffered hard times at points over their long lives, but even so, they are grounded, happy, and productive. That pasta and cabbage looks delicious.

[@Changelingheart]

This reminds me of my Aunts and my Grandmother in the kitchen when putting a Holiday Meal together!!!🌿 Such memories!! ❤

[@ΔωροθεαΣκλεπα-κ2η]

Good morning Grannies.!!!!!amazing video with wonderful recipes. Reminds me my mother Angelica and my grandmother Francesca.!!!! Hello from Greece.!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤🥘🥘🥘🍲🍲🍲🍲🥖🥖🥖🥗🥗🥗

[@pastagrannies]

It would be great to film Greek yiayias! Wasn't Sicily Greek back in ancient history? Maybe that's a reason for the feeling of similarity 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@andrewmcfarland57]

Yes. This is definitely my favorite news channel 🙂

[@pastagrannies]

Thanks Andrew! it's a good respite from the news isn't it 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@artycrafty9209]

A kitchen full of happiness and scalded hands! still worth it, that's what I call a winter warmer! thank you team. Ramon x

[@pastagrannies]

hi Ramon, they were/are great fun to spend time with 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@artycrafty9209]

@@pastagrannies 🖤

[@jennifertucker5907]

They were sooooo cute with their bickering. Love love your channel. I have tried several things from your recipe books and all have turned out so good. It is wonderful to be able to see the authentic way pasta dishes are made. I would never won’t to be on the bad side of a nonna, they must be strong to roll out the tough pasta dough. 😊😊

[@pastagrannies]

Hi Jennifer, I'm delighted to hear that! 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@art_see_shan1849]

I’m a 48 yr old & I wish I had a granny to watch & learn from . She passed on before my mother was 8 😢 So I watch from a sentimental place 😇🥹

[@stephaniebaima6947]

one of the beautiful things about the internet! 💖

[@davisd_ambly4067]

No nonsense in that kitchen. These Nonnas rule.

[@nancyanderson6404]

I'm so glad you have a video today. I love cabbage and noodles. A new way. To fix them! I make my noodles all the time. Never thought about breaking the dried sheets and then boiling them with cabbage. Thank you. I love these ladies.

[@pastagrannies]

It's a fun and fast way to deal with the pasta (once dried of course). 🙂 best wishes, Vicky

[@emmylou-y4b]

I love these three ladies. I have two cousins my age; I pray that we are that close and can cook and be happy together as they are. God bless them and God bless you and your crew for this wonderful channel.

[@pastagrannies]

Don't wait, start cooking with them this very weekend 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@rhonda6791]

These three ladies are too adorable and funny! Friends forever. ❤

[@mariapepper6175]

Pardon my poetic license. The family that cooks together, stays together! Wonderful video!! Thanks!! 🙏❣🙏❣🙏

[@theresamimnaugh1190]

❤Oh that looks DIVINE! I always marvel at these ladies you present…so capable and sure of themselves, with no regard for age. They prompt me to try things myself, even though I’m almost 67. I find myself doing more, saying “if they can do it at 90, surely I can try”! A big thank you🎉

[@pastagrannies]

hi Theresa, I think the secret is, the ladies think of themselves as 50 and capable of anything! 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@grouchosaidit5454]

What a hoot this team is!

[@elisaastorino2881]

Cabbage and noodles? Here in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, we all love it although it's the Slavic version known as haluski where the cabbage is fried. I never knew Italians did that too. As for the dialect, one of my Italian friends told me that they make a lot of movies in Sicily and they have to be released with subtitles everywhere else!

[@beth12svist]

As far as I am able to determine, that's actually an Americanised version of the Slavic dish which, in its countries of origin, is more like tiny dumplings than noodles. (I'm Czech. I never knew it as noodles.)

[@beth12svist]

Just a speculation, but I suspect a noodle version comes about when you've moved into the New World without your halušky strainer, and don't have time to faff about with cutting them off a cutting board with a teaspoon. (Those are the two traditional ways of making them.)

[@marcotedesco8954]

Love love love this. Pretty familiar form of Sicilian to me as my grandparents live some 20 kms west of Castel di Lucio. Most of these little hill- and mountainside towns are depopulating fast as the younger generations (understandably) leave for larger centres. Thank you for helping preserve some of the most fundamental aspects of their life ❤️

[@pastagrannies]

If they could improve the mobile/internet in these areas, maybe people could be persuaded back? best wishes, Vicky

[@flaviomongiovi8105]

​​@@pastagranniesinternet coverage is the least of the concerns of young people, we leave our towns and small cities because we want better opportunities, meet different people, study, and do different things; in these towns there basically nothing to do all day except for resting, were I old I'd imagine it would be a nice place to be, but the city is where young people want to be Also, 5G internet coverage is nearly everywhere in Sicily (it's got one of the best networks in Italy), so there's not many improvements to make

[@jonesbub1]

What an absolutely DELIGHTFUL group of ladies!! So full of life and spirit. I’m sure they are the “life of the party!” The pasta dish looks hearty and delicious. I bet it’s great with ricotta added to it! TFS, Sharon🤗♥️🍝

[@frauleintrude6347]

Reminds me a tiny bit on a traditional cabbage and noodle dish called Krautfleck. But Krautfleck is much less soup like. The cabbage is braised with in sugar caramelised onion and a bit of bacon cubes, oddly shaped noodles, roughly diamond shaped cut from a noodle sheet and cooked, and broth are added. Maria is such a mood.

[@pastagrannies]

The pianist and producer Hershey Felder shared his (Hungarian) version of the sweetened cabbage with pasta a few years ago kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4KVaGyrr6-djpo 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@Arnoldiepin]

this is surely an instant classic episode,!!!

[@squiresquiffy3728]

I am constantly surprised and inspired at the simplicity of the dishes. And no cheese!

[@francescamocerithibert2937]

Beautiful ladies this is my beautiful land ❤️ Sicilia reminds me of my mom nonna and zia 😢❤❤❤

[@VerhoevenSimon]

What a marvelous dish, perfect for this colder weather.

[@robbied9239]

Another beautiful dish. In my mother’s dialect, they call this type of pasta ‘taccunelle’, and made with a mix of 00 pasta and fine semolina flour. My mother makes it as a ‘pastasciutta’ with parmigiano instead of a brodo/minestra.

[@pastagrannies]

hi Robbie, that sounds delicious. I love all the variations one finds 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@sharendonnelly7770]

What a wonderful trio of grannies! Really enjoyed the dish, but the banter and friendship really shone in this video. Loved it.

[@jennyprorock]

always look forward to your new uploads every week. and this one didn't disappoint. It looks delicious ❤

[@pastagrannies]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Jenny 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@bellebeauty67]

Adorable Nonna's❤❤❤

[@josiemorgan5401]

Bless them all 🙏🙏🙏

[@trudyrank7389]

We lived in Campofiorito, Sicily on a farm for 8 years. I learned so much from the farmers wives and boy do I miss them ! Wish you would do a video there, maybe from Maria and Olivia Bongorno ❤️ from Mexico

[@dudemeister1817]

what a precious channel! :) glad i discovered you and the grannies!

[@pastagrannies]

Welcome to Pasta Grannies! 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@phronsiekeys]

Are the cabbage leaves actually just broccoli leaves? It looks like they are coming from the stalk of that nice head of broccoli there. I always think there cannot be more adorable elderly Italian women for these videos and then, lo and behold...I am ready to buy a ticket and visit these three!

[@raphaelaborela3967]

yeah. cabbage and broccoli are varieties of the same species.

[@beth12svist]

I don't know, but you, and their own mention of broccoli, make me think this would work equally well with broccoli. Which is much easier for me to get over here in Central Europe than some possibly extremely localised Sicilian version of cabbage. 😅

[@pastagrannies]

The ladies added the broccoli to their basket for decoration and only the cabbage was used, sorry it's a bit misleading! But yes, you could use whatever greens you have. 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@swissfoodie3542]

Those grannies seem really wonderful. What a nice recipe, thanks a lot for sharing Vicky

[@pastagrannies]

My pleasure 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@burlatsdemontaigne6147]

Nina's the bomb!

[@Serendipity1977]

Siete fantastiche, complimenti ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@cfbx-lx7216]

your channel is wonderfull🤩We never miss your videos,. Thanks for sharing, greetings from Belgium

[@pastagrannies]

That's great to hear, thank you for being a fan. 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@neastop]

What wonderful ladies! I would have loved to have been in that kitchen while you filmed this!

[@pastagrannies]

It was a party! 😀🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@Changelingheart]

I love the idea of adding the ricotta cheese to this too. Or for purests, served on the side and slread on crunchy hot toated buttered bread!! Salt and Pepper too, or a sprinkle of dry chili flakes..

[@PaulMcGuinness]

I nonni sono molto divertati 😂- ho bisogno di una nonna come loro per nutrirmi 😋

[@richardb22]

My Bread has arrived even in America- And she's still here :says her friend ......LOL. Would like to have seen Ninas husband who grows the cabbages . Cabbage Grandpa . That must be an interesting relationship. I mean that in a good way. Together forever.

[@ileanamorgan531]

😂😂😂😂😊 que lindas❤

[@fidelisfaber4961]

5:12. Just a note on language: *scotto* doesn't mean "too hot" it means "overcooked". It describes the mushy pasta naughty children/ husbands get if they arrive home late and Nonna has left the pasta cooking too long as a result.

[@pastagrannies]

Thank you, I like your explanation of 'scotto' and appreciate you wanting to improve my Italian! I think what I said was 'scotta'? Which means 'burning' for those non Italian speakers reading this. 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@emildrimbea3210]

that s nice

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

This looks rather Roman with the use of the cabbage and the taccuna looking like the Roman Placenta used like an all purpose cracker bread...

[@clonn]

They look and act a lot like my grandma, the same gestures. Her parents were from Sicily.

[@fenuccu]

🌻

[@brucetidwell7715]

"When it's cooked it's eaten!" Sounds like that granny speak for "get out of my kitchen! I call you when it's ready!" 😄 Was that actually cabbage? It looked like broccoli leaves.

[@ramynoureddini5487]

How do y'all find the grannies to film? Just by exploring rural towns in Italy?

[@pastagrannies]

My wing woman and 'Granny Finder' Livia De Giovanni helps me with the research. We ask lots of different civic groups to suggest people. 🙂🌺 best wishes, Vicky

[@lenase7396]

😋😘

[@olgacaltabiano7465]

Did the ladies add oil, if they did l missed it. Much better if oil was added at the end.

[@ΙωανναΜπετσα]

🇬🇷💯💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞

[@lntersteIIa5555]

too short video,too short 😊

[@violetgaribyan-jg9ll]

🌷🙏👏🌺🫒

[@Saba15-t9d]

Feisty women 😅

[@calmeilles]

Sicilianu is a _language._

[@gilanganeh1]

first