Acini Di Pepe
Acini di pepe – an extremely small, round pasta shape – translates to peppercorn, or seeds of pepper. It comes from the Latin word acinus, meaning grape stones. Though this tiny pasta translates to peppercorns, it is in fact much smaller than this. Acini di pepe are actually the size of a grain of couscous! They are a symbol of fertility, which is why they are used in the popular vegetable-based dish, Italian wedding soup.
In fact, acini di pepe is perfect for most soups. Typically made from traditional semolina flour, they’re meant to be served in lighter, broth-based soups and pasta salads.
Did you know?
Acini di pepe is one of smallest types of pasta but not the smallest – which is credited to be the smallest?
Answer: Pastina
Recipes
Tomato, Vegetable, and Pasta Gazpacho
