Orecchiette with arugula and tomatoes
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Orecchiette with arugula and tomatoes is one of the most characteristic dishes in Apulia, in the South of Italy. Apulia, Puglia in Italian, is the home of orecchiette pasta, along with Basilicata, a region close by.
The peculiarity of orecchiette
Orecchiette take their name from their shape. In fact, orecchiette translates to “small ears” in English. In fact, orecchiette means small ears in English. This characteristic shape is simple to make by dragging a small piece of pasta dough with a knife on a rugged surface and then inverting the curled shape that forms.
Orecchiette is a simple pasta variety that doesn’t require a pasta machine to shape and the dough only contains three ingredients: water, semolina, and salt. In Apulia, there are many dishes that can be made with this type of pasta. Along with this orecchiette with arugula and tomatoes, the most classic recipe for orecchiette in Apulia is the one with broccoli rabe.
Ingredients for orecchiette with arugula and tomatoes
First thing first: make your own orecchiette. How? By following our super easy recipe here. Well, it’s not mandatory but highly recommended! You can of course skip this step and buy orecchiette from a close-by store.
Choose a good quality brand because taste and consistency are important. Pasta should always maintain that al dente consistency after it has been cooked.
The rest of the recipe is very easy to make: you will need to cook the whole peeled tomatoes with a garlic clove in oil, adding salt and pepper, to create a sauce. Meanwhile, in a pot, cook the fresh pasta with arugula for 5 minutes. Drain the pasta and arugula, and mix with the tomato sauce that will be already cooked.
Can I store it?
We do not recommend storing fresh pasta but if you need to, you can keep it in an airtight container for 1-2 days in your refrigerator.
Have you ever visited Apulia and eaten one of the most characteristic dishes of Southern Italy? Tell us in the comments, including whether you have ever made your homemade orecchiette. We would love to hear your story!
Orecchiette with arugula and tomatoes
Equipment
- Cooking pot
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 200 grams orecchiette pasta
- 1 clove garlic
- 400 grams whole peeled tomatoes
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- 100 grams arugula
Instructions
- Prepare the orecchiette pasta if making your own. Follow a recipe here and adjust the amount for as many people as you need.
- In a saucepan, heat some olive oil over medium heat and add the garlic clove. After a moment, add the tomatoes.
- Mix and squish the tomatoes while cooking. Add salt and pepper to taste. Reduce the heat slightly and cook for 15 minutes.
- In the meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a separate pot. Add salt, the orecchiette, and the previously washed arugula. Cook for five minutes.
- When the pasta and arugula are ready, drain them well and add them into the pan with the sauce. Mix well and add more salt or pepper, if needed. Serve.
Caution
Nutritional information shall not be used for medical reasons.
Love this super easy recipe. Orecchiette is one of my favorite pasta to enjoy as the small bowl collects all the sauce, thus making it more fun and flavorful bites.
Thank you for sharing.
Total comfort food! So savory and hearty!
I appreciated that this recipe only had a few ingredients and was simple to prepare!
I love pasta and this makes me wanna add Italy to my list of countries to visit! I will have to try this.
I love the simplicity of this pasta dish. Fresh and delicious!
Good to know about this amazing Italian recipe!! It looks so delicious, and I can’t wait to try it!!!