Cavatelli


Cavatelli are small pasta shells from eggless semolina dough that look like miniature hot dog buns, commonly cooked with garlic and broccoli or broccoli rabe. A variant adds ricotta cheese to the dough mix.

Regional names and varieties

Many varieties and local names of Cavatelli exist, including orecchie di prete. In Apulia a number of varieties of Cavatelli have specific names including pizzicarieddi.
A particular variety of Cavatelli is typical of the area of Teggiano in Campania, where they are referred to as Parmatieddi. Parmatieddi are larger than Cavatelli and flat-shaped. They are obtained by rolling a stick dough with three fingers of one hand, instead of with a single finger as done for the common Cavatelli. Parmatieddi are usually served as first course on Palm Sunday and their shape similar to that of a tree leaf, would like to recall that of palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus when he entered into Jerusalem.