Cavatelli facts for kids
Uncooked cavatelli
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| Type | Pasta |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Molise, Apulia, Basilicata |
Cavatelli (pronounced KAV-ə-TEL-ee) are small, shell-shaped pasta pieces. Their name means "little hollows" in Italian, which describes their shape perfectly. They look a bit like tiny hot dog buns!
Cavatelli are usually made from semolina flour or other types of flour dough. People often cook them with garlic and broccoli or broccoli rabe. They are also delicious with a simple tomato sauce. Sometimes, ricotta cheese is added to the dough to make them even richer. In towns near the sea, cavatelli with seafood are a very popular dish.
Different Names for Cavatelli
There are many kinds of cavatelli, and they have different names depending on where you are in Italy. One interesting name is orecchie di prete, which means "priest's ears."
Cavatelli in Apulia
In the Apulia region of Italy, some types of cavatelli have special names. One example is pizzicarieddi.
Parmatieddi from Campania
A special kind of cavatelli comes from the area of Teggiano in Campania. These are called parmatieddi (or palmatielli). Parmatieddi are bigger and flatter than regular cavatelli.
To make them, people roll a piece of dough using three fingers instead of just one. This is different from how common cavatelli are made. Parmatieddi are often served as a first course on Palm Sunday. Their shape looks like a tree leaf, which reminds people of the palm branches used when Jesus entered Jerusalem.
