Barilla unveils new pasta line made with lentils or chickpeas

Barilla has launched a line of one-ingredient legume pastas as it aims to profit from consumer interest in plant-based diets and protein.

The Italian company said the legume segment has seen expansion in all areas of food and beverage, including dry pasta.

Made with just chickpeas or red lentils, the pastas are said to have a “unique taste and ‘al dente’ texture”, along with the nutritional benefits of legumes – providing a good source of protein and fibre.

The range is available in four variants: red lentil rotini, red lentil penne, chickpea rotini and chickpea casarecce.

Jean-Pierre Comte, president of Barilla Americas, said: “At Barilla, we only have one way of doing business: ‘good for you, good for the planet’. This means constantly innovating and improving our products to provide people with high-quality foods that are healthy, sourced from responsible supply chains, and inspired by the Italian lifestyle and Mediterranean diet.”

The pastas are available for $2.99 each in the US.

Last year Barilla announced it would invest €50 million to increase the efficiency at its pasta plant in Parma.