Cavatelli vs Orecchiette
Cavatelli is small dumpling with a hollow, rolled under two fingers. Orecchiette is small domed disc, rough on the outside, dragged over the board with a knife.
Side by side, to scale
10 mmCavatelli: 20 to 30 mm by 8 to 12 mm
Orecchiette: 18 to 25 mm by 18 to 25 mm
Footprints from the length and width in each record, one scale for both. See every shape on the chart.
| Family | Hand-formed | Hand-formed |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Puglia | Puglia |
| Section | Small dumpling with a hollow, rolled under two fingers | Small domed disc, rough on the outside, dragged over the board with a knife |
| Length | 20 to 30 mm | 18 to 25 mm |
| Width or diameter | 8 to 12 mm | 18 to 25 mm |
| Wall or thickness | not measured | 2 to 3 mm |
| Surface | Rough | Rough |
| Hollow | No | No |
| Dough | Semolina and water | Semolina and water |
| Cook time | 8 to 12 min | 9 to 12 min |
| Brands with a page | not measured | De Cecco, Rummo, Garofalo, Barilla, La Molisana |
| Catalogue numbers | not measured | De Cecco no. 91, Rummo no. 87, Garofalo no. 5, La Molisana no. 30 |
| Cook time across brands | not measured | 10 to 14 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 | 14 | 300 |
| Pairs with | Broccoli and anchovy, Sausage ragu, Meat ragu, Cime di rapa, Pomodoro | Cime di rapa, Sausage ragu, Broccoli and anchovy, Meat ragu, Pomodoro, Ricotta |
Cavatelli
A dense chewy shell with a hollow, so it carries a ragu, broccoli or greens with garlic, a sausage sauce, and beans. The rough face holds oil and cheese.
Orecchiette
A rough cup with a thick centre and a thin rim. The cup holds greens, sausage crumbs, and chunky vegetables; the rough outside grips oil and cheese. It wants sauces with pieces, never a smooth coating.
Can you swap them?
Orecchiette for cavatelli: yes, the other Puglian hand shape.
Cavatelli for orecchiette: yes, the other Puglian hand shape, rolled instead of pressed.
Both take Broccoli and anchovy, Sausage ragu, Meat ragu, Cime di rapa, Pomodoro.
Only orecchiette: Ricotta.
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.