The difference
Lumache vs Orecchiette
Lumache curls into a snail shell with a single opening that traps a thick sauce inside. Orecchiette is a small concave ear, a shallow disc with its center pressed thinner than the raised rim, the Pugliese shape. The snail holds sauce in its cavity, the ear catches it in its cup.

Lumache
- Family
- Shaped shorts
- Size
- not yet measured
- Surface
- Ridged
- Cook
- 12 to 13 min
Wants: Ragu, Chunky vegetable sauce, Cheese sauce

Orecchiette
- Family
- Shaped shorts
- Size
- 9 to 25 mm across
- Surface
- Textured
- Cook
- 9 to 13 min
Wants: Broccoli rabe, Sausage ragu, Tomato with cacioricotta
Compare more shapes, or look up Lumache and Orecchiette in full.
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