What is Orecchiette?
Small ear-shaped pasta from Puglia -- the concave disc catches leafy greens and chunky sauces in its bowl while the thicker rim provides contrasting texture.
Classic pairings: Cime di rapa (turnip tops), Meat ragu, Broccoli rabe
Orecchiette is a small, concave, disc-shaped pasta from Puglia in southern Italy. Each piece resembles a tiny ear (orecchiette means “little ears”), roughly 2cm across, with a thinner center and a thicker, slightly upturned rim. Traditional orecchiette are made from semolina and water, dragged across a board with a knife to create the characteristic concave shape.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Region | Puglia (Bari, Taranto) |
| Era | 13th century (documented in Bari by 13th c.) |
| Diameter | ~2cm |
| Classic sauce | Cime di rapa, broccoli rabe, meat ragu |
| Cook time | 10-13 min (dried); 3-5 min (fresh) |
| Texture | Thicker rim, thinner center — dual texture |
The concave shape makes orecchiette function as a small bowl: braised leafy greens (cime di rapa, broccoli rabe) pool in the depression, and olive oil and garlic coat the rough hand-dragged surface. The thicker rim stays slightly al dente when the center is fully cooked, providing two textures in one bite. The shape suits assertive, bitter, or herbal flavors — it was designed around the agricultural produce of Puglia’s interior.
Orecchiette’s origins in Bari are documented from the 13th century, though similar dragged pasta shapes exist across southern Italy and Provence (where Angevin rulers may have spread the technique). In Bari Vecchia (the old city), women traditionally make orecchiette by hand on the street and sell them fresh — a practice that continues today as a living culinary tradition.
Small ear-shaped pasta from Puglia -- the concave disc catches leafy greens and chunky sauces in its bowl while the thicker rim provides contrasting texture.
Orecchiette is traditionally paired with Cime di rapa (turnip tops), Meat ragu, Broccoli rabe.
Orecchiette originates from Puglia, Italy, documented from the 13th century.