Homemade Orecchiette + 6 Italian Orecchiette Recipes.
Orecchiette is one of my favourite pasta types. However, no matter how good dried, fresh or frozen ready-made orecchiette may be, homemade orecchiette is definitely the best! It’s also not so difficult to make at home. Plus, there are many delicious recipes for this Southern Italian pasta! Once you have made your own orecchiette you’ll be able to use them in any of these 6 Italian orecchiette recipes.

Homemade Orecchiette in Puglia
Up until now, I have always used ready-made orecchiette. Luckily, here in Northern Italy, it’s possible to buy this pasta fresh. Although, dried is also available. However, we have been on holiday in Puglia a number of times. And, there, restaurants make their own orecchiette. I have to admit that the orecchiette I have eaten in Puglia, is so much better than what I can buy here!
One of my pasta related dreams is to go to Bari and see the women making and selling homemade orecchiette in the alleys of the old city. This is an ancient tradition that attracts a lot of tourists. Check out this video from my other favourite pasta site, Pasta Grannies.
A little orecchiette history.
Orecchiette is a really ancient type of pasta from Puglia and Basilicata. The word ‘orecchiette’ means ‘little ears’ and, of course, the name comes from the shape. This pasta became popular in Puglia between the 12th and 13th century. However, some food historians say that originally orecchiette arrived in Southern Italy from Provence during the 13th century with the Angevins, who brought with them a form of pasta called ‘crosets’ . This was very similar to the orecchiette of today. You can read more about the origins of orecchiette in my orecchiette post.
The right flour for homemade orecchiette.
Orecchiette is made with durum wheat semola flour. Outside of Italy, this flour is often called semolina flour. It is a hard wheat flour that is slightly yellow in colour. It is, also, the flour used in almost all Italian dried pasta as well as most of the traditional pasta shapes from Southern Italy.
For Northern Italian egg pasta, the Italians use soft wheat flour. This is because, durum wheat is mostly grown in the South. Also, the dough from durum wheat is quite tough and not suitable for typical Northern pasta types such as ravioli, lasagne or tagliatelle.
Making homemade orecchiette.
Like many Southern Italian pasta shapes, you only need flour, water and salt to make homemade orecchiette. Making and kneading the dough isn’t so difficult. It requires just a little more elbow grease than egg pasta dough. The reason for this is that durum wheat pasta has a higher gluten content than soft wheat pasta.
Once you have made the dough and left it to rest a while, the next step involves rolling pieces of the dough into 10” (25cm) sausages and cutting the sausage into small pieces (1-2cm about 0.4-0.8in) . You can make your orecchiette any size you want. The important thing is that your pasta is more or less the same size.
So far, this is much the same method as making cavatelli or even gnocchi. However, once you have cut the dough into small pieces the tricky part starts! Homemade orecchiette is a little more difficult than cavatelli. I have to confess that it took me a while to get the hang of making homemade orecchiette. My hubby, Salvatore, is much better at it than I. Maybe, because he’s a surgeon!!
There are two ways to shape orecchiette. The first is using a knife. You need to hold the knife at a 45-degree angle to your work surface, then press and roll the piece of dough toward you. When you reach the end of the piece of dough, stop and unfurl it over your thumb in the opposite direction to form a concave shape. Put the ready orecchiette on a baking sheet or tea towel, lightly sprinkled with semolina flour. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Some people are able to make homemade orecchiette using just their thumb. We tried this, but the knife worked better! Homemade pasta is never going to look as perfect as machine made. The important thing is the taste. And although some of our homemade orecchiette were a bit oddly shaped, they tasted fantastic!
6 Italian orecchiette recipes.
The first recipe we used our orecchiette in was one with roasted cherry tomatoes (see link below). So good and perfect for summer. Like the pasta, this recipe is from Puglia as are most of the 6 Italian orecchiette recipes below. I’m sure you will enjoy trying them all with your homemade orecchiette! (click the name of the dish to go to the recipe)
Orecchiette with meatballs
The original Italian recipe for pasta with meatballs. This orecchiette with meatballs is a traditional dish on Sundays and holidays in Southern Italy, particularly Puglia (Apulia).
Orecchiette with broccoli rabe (rapini).
Orecchiette with broccoli rabe, also known as rapini, is one of the signature pasta dishes of Apulian cuisine. However, it is also popular in neighbouring Basilicata and the surrounding areas of Southern Italy. Like so many traditional pasta dishes, this is a simple recipe made with only a few ingredients but it is so surprisingly tasty!
Orecchiette with braciole alla Barese.
This rich and tasty traditional orecchiette with braciole alla Barese recipe comes from Bari in Puglia. Like many similar Italian ‘Sunday sauce’ recipes, it takes a while to cook, but the result is melt in your mouth filled beef rolls in a thick flavourful tomato sauce.
Orecchiette with Romanesco broccoli, burrata and anchovies.
This orecchiette with Romanesco broccoli is based on a traditional recipe from Puglia. It can be made with other types of broccoli too and is a wonderfully delicious and nutritious winter pasta dish.
Orecchiette with nduja and eggplant.
If you like spicy pasta recipes then orecchiette with nduja and eggplant is one to try. The tomatoes, nduja, eggplant and ricotta salata combine to make a dish that is full of rich, bold Southern Italian flavour.
Orecchiette with roasted cherry tomatoes.
A delightfully delicious orecchiette pasta recipe from Puglia which involves roasting the sauce instead of cooking it in a pan. A great summer recipe perfect for family meals and weeknights.
If you make this homemade orecchiette pasta with any of these 6 Italian orecchiette recipes, I’d love to hear how it turns out and if you liked it. Please leave a comment here on the blog or on The Pasta Project Facebook page. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Buon appetito!
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sapana says
I have always used dtore bought orecchiette,never knew it could be made at home so easily. Love your recipe ideas as well. I will try the cherry tomatoes version soon.
Gail Montero says
Next time I go to the grocery, I'll be sure to grab some orechiette and think - based on this yummy post - which recipe I should make first! Great collection!
Sara says
I am SO excited to come across your recipe for homemade orecchiette!! One of our favorite places in Chicago serves orecchiette with sausage, broccoli, and parmesan ... and I've recreated it a few times at home since we've had it. However, I've always wanted to make it with HOMEMADE orecchiette - and now I can! Thank you for sharing this!
Kushigalu says
I hav never tried orecchiette type of pasta earlier. These look so cute and delicious plus thanks for additional 6 recipes. You made my dinner easy today 🙂
Emily says
I love orecchiette pasta! All of your varieties look so delicious, especially the orecchiette with meatballs!
Genevieve says
I love seeing all of your homemade pasta recipes! Orecchiette has so many wonderful uses. I love using it in my homemade Bolognese recipe. This all looks delicious!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
Orecchiette is one of my favorite pastas! I was looking for more ways to make it and now have lots of yummy options. So tasty.
Wendy says
Thank you for sharing how to make homemade ORECCHIETTE. It's hard to find here in the south but we love it so much,
Sarah James says
What an interesting post, I would love to see orecchiette made by hand in Bari too. Thanks for all the tips on how to make orecchiette and the delicious recipes, pinning for later.
Leslie says
I love how you put this post together. You gave an awesome recipe then 6 more options to make it with! LOVE!
Sondra Barker says
I've never made orecchiette but is definitely something I would like to try. I love the different options you provided! can't wait to make this
Georgina | Culinary Travels says
Oriechette is one of my favourite types of pasta. I have never made my own, but I will be doing now. You have me inspired.
Chef Dennis says
I've often thought about making pasta and you make it looks so easy! Your recipes are an added bonus and I can't wait to give them a try!!
Maria says
We love orecchiette and are excited to try making it. I love that you included the recipes to use the pasta with and I think we will start the one with the roasted cherry tomatoes since we have so many from our garden.
Amy Liu Dong says
We loved eating pasta a lot and I am so happy to know the way of making it. Thank you for sharing this with us including those 6 recipes.Keep safe.
Stine Mari says
This is amazing! I love that you not only shared how to make homemade orecchiette, but also provided us with 6 recipes to try them in. All of them look so, so good!
Jere Cassidy says
Your recipes are always amazing, I do love the history behind the pasta. All the orecchiette recipes look delicoious. I need to try making pasta, it's so much better fresh.
Linda says
Homemade fresh pasta is my favorite because I'm a pastaholic; however, I've never tried making homemade orecchiette and this might be my new comfort food.
Taleen | Just As Tasty says
I love orecchiette so I really appreciate the different recipes! Can't wait to try these!
Marta says
Orecchiette has to be the cutest of all pastas. I love tossing mine in a nice pesto because the sauce pools in the little cavity. It's the best.