Acini di pepe vs Ditalini
Acini di pepe is tiny beads the size of peppercorns. Ditalini is tiny straight tube, the soup ditali.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmAcini di pepe: 2 to 3 mm by 2 to 3 mm
Ditalini: 4 to 7 mm by 4 to 6 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Pastina | Pastina |
|---|---|---|
| Region | All of Italy | Campania |
| Section | Tiny beads the size of peppercorns | Tiny straight tube, the soup ditali |
| Length | 2 to 3 mm | 4 to 7 mm |
| Width or diameter | 2 to 3 mm | 4 to 6 mm |
| Wall or thickness | not measured | 0.8 to 1 mm |
| Surface | Smooth | Smooth |
| Hollow | No | Yes |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 6 to 9 min | 7 to 10 min |
| Brands with a page | De Cecco | Barilla |
| Catalogue numbers | De Cecco no. 78 | not measured |
| Cook time across brands | 9 min | 11 min |
| Energy, dry, per 100 g | 371 kcal (dry semolina pasta) | 371 kcal (dry semolina pasta) |
| Protein, dry, per 100 g | 13.0 g | 13.0 g |
| Products catalogued | 18 | 28 |
| Pairs with | In brodo, Minestrone, Pasta e ceci | Pasta e fagioli, Pasta e ceci, Minestrone, In brodo, Pomodoro |
Acini di pepe
Cooked in the broth it is served in. Clear soups, wedding soup, a chicken broth with egg. Too small for any sauce.
Ditalini
A tiny tube cooks in the liquid it is served in and holds a bean or a pea in its bore. Soups, thick vegetable stews, and a simple tomato for children.
Can you swap them?
Acini di pepe for ditalini: yes, smaller still, for clear broth.
Both take In brodo, Minestrone, Pasta e ceci.
Only ditalini: Pasta e fagioli, Pomodoro.
Sources
- Dimensions, surface, dough, and cook time: each shape page names the brand page, spec sheet, or measured box behind every figure.
- Brands, catalogue numbers, brand cook times, and brand dimensions: the brand product pages linked on each shape page, read on 2026-08-25.
- Energy and protein: USDA FoodData Central, per 100 g of the dough, public domain.
- Products catalogued: Open Food Facts, Open Database License, read on 2026-08-25. A crowd database: a count is a floor.