Acini di pepe
Also known as: peppercorn pasta, pepe bucato
Very small dry soup pasta in tiny bead shapes, “peppercorns” in Italian, made from durum wheat semolina and water.
Acini di pepe are a very small dry pasta shaped like tiny beads and used in soups and salads. The name is Italian for “peppercorns”; according to Ronzoni, the pasta is smaller than a peppercorn.
Under Italian law (DPR 187/2001, art. 6), dry durum wheat pasta is made only from durum wheat semolina and water, by extrusion, rolling and drying. Producers of acini di pepe in the United States list semolina and durum flour with added vitamins and minerals (Ronzoni, San Giorgio).
Ronzoni's package directions give 9 minutes for al dente, 10 for firm and 11 for tender, in rapidly boiling water, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Times differ between brands, so follow the packet.
Producers suggest acini di pepe for thin broth soups such as chicken soup; Ronzoni says the shape was originally made for Italian Wedding Soup. The mild taste also suits cold pasta salads. Ronzoni advises tossing leftover cooked pasta with a little olive oil, covering it and keeping it in the refrigerator.
Facts
| Raw material | Durum wheat semolina and water |
|---|---|
| Duration | 9–11 min (Ronzoni package directions) |
| Main use | Broth soups, wedding soup, cold pasta salads |
What it includes
How it connects to Pasta
Acini di pepe → kind of → Dry durum wheat pasta → kind of → 🍝 Pasta
Links
- What it contains
- Semolina, 🌾 Durum wheat
- Part of
- Dry durum wheat pasta
- Similar and different
- Orzo, Stelline, Fregula, Alphabet pasta, Delverde Pasta di Semola, Colavita Classic Cuts
Frequently asked questions
How long do you cook acini di pepe?
Ronzoni's package directions give 9 minutes for al dente, 10 for firm and 11 for tender, in rapidly boiling water. Check the packet of the brand you buy.
What does acini di pepe mean?
It is Italian for “peppercorns”, and the pasta is smaller than a peppercorn, according to Ronzoni.
What are acini di pepe used for?
Producers suggest thin broth soups such as chicken soup, including Italian Wedding Soup, and cold pasta salads.
What to read next
- 🌾 Durum wheat — A wheat species with very hard grain and strong gluten, milled into semolina for dry pasta and couscous.
- Orzo — Small dry pasta shaped like a grain of rice, made from durum wheat semolina and water; the Italian word orzo means barley.
- Delverde Pasta di Semola — Delverde's core range of dry pasta made from durum wheat semolina and spring water: 46 long, short and soup shapes.
- Stelline — Tiny star-shaped pasta of the pastina family, cooked in broth and soups; the dry kind is made from durum wheat semolina.
- Alphabet pasta — Tiny dry pasta shaped like letters, cooked in broth and soups and made from durum wheat semolina and water.
Similar
Fregula · Campanelle · Manicotti · Lasagnette · Gemelli · Radiatori