Guest Cook

Italian · Pasta · Vegetarian

Handmade Orecchiette

Just semolina, water, and the press of your thumb. The hardest pasta to master and the most rewarding bowl when you do.

Alessandro Rossi

Alessandro Rossi

4.86 · Master Chef

Time

55 Mins

Skill

Intermediate

Rating

4.9 / 5

The method

  1. 01

    Mound semolina, well in the center, pour water in slowly while bringing flour from the walls.

  2. 02

    Knead 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Rest covered, 30 minutes.

  3. 03

    Roll ropes the thickness of a pencil, cut into ½-inch pieces, drag each across the board with your thumb.

  4. 04

    Boil orecchiette and broccoli rabe together until al dente.

  5. 05

    Bloom garlic, anchovy, chili in olive oil. Toss everything with a splash of pasta water.

Watch it made

Cook-alongs from the chef, plus variations other cooks have filmed in their own kitchens.

0:06Chef

Thumb-press technique, slowed down

Alessandro Rossi

"Drag with the pad of the thumb, not the tip, or the pasta tears."