<p>Pasta for pudding? Sainsbury’s is certainly hoping you’ll give it a try. The latest addition to its Taste the Difference range is a <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100262634-14104232?sid=bbcgoodfood-1025180&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sainsburys.co.uk%2Fgroceries%2Fproduct%2Fsainsburys-250g-milk-chocolate-mascarpone-girasoli-pasta-taste-the-difference-limited-edition" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">limited edition pasta</a> filled with milk chocolate and mascarpone, then shaped into girasoli (meaning ‘sunflowers’ in Italian), available for £3.50. The pasta takes four minutes to cook on the hob, or can be prepared in an air fryer.</p><p>It’s safe to say that some shoppers have been left dazed, confused and even <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualUK/comments/1wissvm/i_think_sainsburys_has_lost_the_plot/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">borderline horrified</a> by the idea, questioning whether chocolate and pasta should ever be allowed to grace the same plate. Meanwhile, others are praising Sainsbury’s for its creativity and are particularly complementing the product’s rich and creamy chocolate filling.</p><p>Cocoa pasta isn’t quite as unusual or inauthentic as it sounds. Recipes for savoury dishes with chocolate date back to the 17th century in Italy, and even nowadays, chocolate is often incorporated into ravioli fillings along with seasonal ingredients such as pumpkin, as well as being used in ‘agrodolce’ sauces to pair with meat, or even incorporated into the pasta dough itself. In Tuscany especially, chocolate is a key addition to venison and wild boar dishes, providing a touch of acidity and acting as a thickener for sauces. Morrisons was the first UK supermarket to capture this concept in their <a href="https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/scoiattolo-chocolate-ravioli-250g/115856909" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scoiattolo chocolate ravioli</a>, but this Sainsbury’s version sounds a little more decadent.</p><p>On first viewing this product, I did momentarily wonder if April fools had come around again already, but following the mantra of ‘don’t knock it until you’ve tried it’, I am keen to get my hands on some before forming any conclusions. My main quandary is whether it should be a main or dessert. Marketed as a ‘swavoury’ product, you could potentially take it in either direction. Personally, I’d embrace the sweetness and serve it as a pudding with chocolate sauce, a dollop of whipped cream and perhaps some berries for freshness. But if you prefer a less sugary finish, you could try it with a little mascarpone, toasted nuts or a dusting of cocoa.</p><h2 id="what-else-is-in-the-new-range-66c91b46">What else is in the new range?</h2>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2026/09/Sainsburys-filled-pastas-4987b75.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="Two packets of Sainsbury&apos;s filled pasta – &apos;nduja and hot honey plus aubergine and smoked ricotta" title="Sainsbury&apos;s new Taste the Difference pasta" />
<p>For a slightly more recognisably savoury option, the <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100262634-14104232?sid=bbcgoodfood-1025180&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sainsburys.co.uk%2Fgroceries%2Fproduct%2Fsainsburys-250g-nduja-hot-honey-girasoli-pasta-taste-the-difference" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">nduja & hot honey girasoli</a> (£3.50) combine spicy Calabrian sausage with mascarpone and chilli-infused honey. This flavour fully delivers on this year’s sweet-and-spicy (‘swicy’) trend and sounds like the one I’d choose for a quick weeknight dinner.</p><p>I’m also intrigued by the sound of the <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100262634-14104232?sid=bbcgoodfood-1025180&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sainsburys.co.uk%2Fgroceries%2Fproduct%2Fsainsburys-250g-aubergine-smoked-ricotta-quadrato-pasta-taste-the-difference" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">aubergine & smoked ricotta quadrato</a> (£3.50), which offers a vegetarian filling with smoky, creamy flavours, while the <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100262634-14104232?sid=bbcgoodfood-1025180&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sainsburys.co.uk%2Fgroceries%2Fproduct%2Fsainsburys-250g-ricotta-spinach-ravioli-pasta-taste-the-difference" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">ricotta & spinach ravioli</a> (£3.50) is a more traditional combination that should work with little more than butter, sage or a simple tomato sauce.</p>
<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/30/2026/09/Cacio-e-pepe-dip-f694094.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="A packet of Sainsbury&apos;s Cacio e pepe dip" title="Sainsbury&apos;s Cacio e pepe dip" />
<p>Alongside the filled pastas, there’s also a <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100262634-14104232?sid=bbcgoodfood-1025180&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sainsburys.co.uk%2Fgroceries%2Fproduct%2Fsainsburys-cacio-e-pepe-dip-taste-the-difference-170g" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">cacio e pepe dip</a>, bringing the Roman pairing of pecorino-style cheese and black pepper to the table in scoopable form. I’d serve it with bread, roasted vegetables or alongside the filled pasta for an easy Italian-inspired spread.</p><p>Whether you see the chocolate girasoli as genius or completely wrong, it’s certainly got people talking – which may be exactly what Sainsbury’s was hoping for. It’s limited edition so give it a go while stocks last.</p>
