Orecchiette pugliesi al pomodoro con la signora Mimina

What are “orecchiette” in Italian?

Signora Mimina makes a Puglian classic by hand: «queste sono le nostre orecchiette al pomodoro» (“these are our orecchiette with tomato”). Orecchiette means “little ears,” from orecchio (“ear”), for the small domed pasta dragged into shape with a thumb.

It’s the pride of Puglia, hand-shaped on doorsteps in Bari Vecchia by the city’s famous pasta nonne. Mimina shares a family ritual: one giant orecchietta is cooked in the pot, and whoever gets it has to wash the dishes. Topped here with cacioricotta cheese, it’s home cooking with a built-in game.