One of three traditional pasta cuts from Puglia.

Paul Ferrari spent nearly two years search for artisan Italian pasta worthy of the A.G. Ferrari Foods name. Today we work with a small pastificio outside Alberobello to craft three pasta cuts typical to Puglia. Orecchiette are rustic "little ears" and perfect for chunky vegetable- and meat-based sauces. What makes this pasta unique?

• It is made with custom-blended Italian durum wheat semolina.
  
• It is noticeably different in taste and texture than most widely available brands.
  
• Bronze dies used in the production process produce a rough-textured cut. As a result, sauce clings better to this pasta than to most commercial brands, which are made with teflon dies.
  
• This pasta plumps to nearly twice its volume when cooked.
  

  Cooking time: up to 20 minutes.

  Prepare an authentic orecchiette recipe from the kitchen of our Executive Chef Gianluca Guglielmi.