orecchiette

/ ˌɒrəkɪˈɛtɪ /

plural noun

1. small ear-shaped pasta pieces

Word History and Origins

Origin of orecchiette¹

C21: from Italian, literally: little ears

Example Sentences

While spaghetti and bucatini are both traditional, I tend to delight in something short and curly — fusilli, orecchiette, shells — shapes that can scoop and cradle.

Read more on Salon

Meanwhile, bring pasta water to a boil, and cook the orecchiette until it’s al dente.

Read more on Seattle Times

The resulting strips of deep fried chicken on my plate of orecchiette pasta certainly tasted like the real deal, if a bit processed.

Read more on BBC

She sent me a ferretto and her orecchiette knife with instructions to practice.

Read more on Salon

When I met Francesco, who comes from Puglia, he told me about his mum making orecchiette and busiate like a machine – she was so efficient and fast!

Read more on Salon