Pasta Almanac

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.

Gouache illustration of Lumache

Lumache

Family
Shaped shorts
Size
not yet measured
Surface
Ridged
Cook
12 to 13 min

Wants: Ragu, Chunky vegetable sauce, Cheese sauce

Gouache illustration of Orecchiette

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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