14 replies to this topic

[Fat Guy]

Is it me or is it impossible to keep orecchiette from sticking together when you cook them? I've had this happen to me twice recently. I'm pretty sure I've done everything right: tons of water, stirring immediately -- yet many of them nest inside one another and stick. What's the issue here?

[slkinsey]

What brand are you using, how much water are you cooking them in, and how often do you stir them?

Always a few will nest inside each other, but it shouldn't rise to the level of "many."

[Franci]

Are you talking about fresh orecchiette or dried?
Are the fresh homemade or store bought? If fresh home made usually they don't stick because in Puglia we use hot water in the dough and that not only gives more bite to the orecchiette but helps with the sticking issue. If fresh storebought make sure the are separated before dumping in water (like put them in a bowl and run your fingers through them, gently separate the stubborn ones). If dry, I don't know if you still often shouldn't happen.

[weinoo]

I find that how I add them to the pot of boiling water makes a difference. So, I add them similar to how I would add polenta to boiling water, letting them run through my hands and making sure they hit the water individually. Then, stir fairly often. But, as Sam says above, there will always be a few "nesters."

[ScottyBoy]

I might be an odd one but I enjoy running into a "nester" while eating...

[Joe Blowe]

I've had success boiling them individually

[Mark Donnelly]

I cook mine individually. Takes me a week, but guaranteed not to stick.

I'll get my coat...

[gfweb]

I find pasta tends not to stick when put in cold water and brought to boil....which is how I tend to cook pasta most of the time....just to annoy the traditionalists. LOL

[rjs1]

Haven't had this problem using De Cecco dry orecchiette. A dash of olive oil in the pot might help?

I love this pasta with small cubes of lightly boiled potato, broccoli or purple sprouting florets, dried chilli flakes and salted anchovy fillet.

[andiesenji]

I buy the fresh at a local market, spread them out on a tray and lightly spray with a little oil.

I drop a few at a time into rapidly boiling water, stir briefly then half-way through the cooking time and have had no problems with nesting.

[rooftop1000]

I might be an odd one but I enjoy running into a "nester" while eating...

This is why I love shells so much...Will have to get some orecchette



tracey

[Mjx]

I'm also curious as to what brand/kind of orecchiette you're using, since I've never had any special problems with this shape; I might just have been lucky in the brands I've used.

[vengroff]

My solution to the nesting problem is to use gnocchetti instead of orecchiette. They catch most sauces just the same way, but don't tend to catch each other as much while cooking because they are a little more oblong.

[Margaret Pilgrim]

My kitchen friend is a two-tined fork. Spot-on for fluffing couscous, polenta, rissoto, and...whirling small pasta like orecchiette. They never nest. BUT I also use de Cecco or an organic artisanal brand.

[janeer]

Aside from the occasional coupling, I don't really have a problem. Water at a rolling boil when you add the pasta? stir it?
It's hard not to love no matter what. My favorite: with buttered/browned cauliflower and breadcrumbs.