Fresh stuffed pasta has established itself over time as an alternative to traditional pasta, with an increasing presence in Spanish supermarkets. Specifically, the OCU has analyzed the composition of up to 110 references in a recently published report. The objective of the consumer and user organization was to verify the nutritional value of the now classic ravioli or tortellini with fillings as varied as they range from sausage to seafood.
The main difference between 'dry' pasta and fresh pasta is that in the latter modality, hardly any time is dedicated to the drying process or it is directly omitted, which results in a product with a humidity of around 30%. Fresh pasta should also contain three eggs for every kilo of semolina to reinforce its color and texture. Among its advantages is the reduction (even more) of cooking times to just two minutes before consumption. However, these products must be kept in the refrigerator and have a rather short expiration date.
According to the entity, the filling must represent at least 25% of the total weight of the fresh pasta product. The OCU differentiates up to 7 types of filling depending on the main ingredient: meat, sausage, fish, pesto, cheese, mushrooms and vegetables. But the organization concludes that a plate of fresh stuffed pasta will not satisfy the recommended daily ration of dairy, protein or vitamins.
For example, the filling in fresh pasta with meat or fish accounts for 49% of the product and, in the best of cases, the meat or fish is 50% of the filling. The rest is breadcrumbs or potato starch, so proteins would make up only 50 grams of a ready-to-eat serving. In the case of vegetable pasta, the filling is, on average, 52% of the product and the vegetables are only 15% of the filling. That is, a plate of fresh pasta stuffed with vegetables provides less than 50 grams of vegetables.
After analyzing the labeling of 110 references of fresh stuffed pasta for sale in Spanish supermarkets, the OCU warns that they all follow the same pattern. The filling is usually a starch-based paste, plus a little meat, vegetables, mushrooms or any other 'main' ingredient. That is why, although there are differences, a 100 gram serving of this type of pasta is far from being a complete meal.
