Pici Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes and Aromatic Herbs

Some pastas are best when made by hand. Well, actually, all pasta is best when made by hand! But pici pasta in particular is best made and served fresh. Pici pasta are one of the thicker rolls of pasta you’ll find, and they are traditionally made all over Tuscany. This particular recipe — which also features tomatoes, an ingredient in abundance every August — comes from the kitchen of Chef Silvia of our culinary vacation Cook Under the Tuscan Sun. Chef Silvia is an award-winning chef who loves imparting her knowledge of Tuscan and Italian cuisine to her culinary guests. You can also use pici pasta to make the Best Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. Please contact us for details on this or any of our cooking vacations in Italy. See part 1 of our video on making pici pasta:

Pici Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes and Herbs

6 servings Prep time: 60 minutes Cook time: 3 minutes Cook method: Boil Ingredients for the pasta:

• 250 ml (9 oz)water
• 500 g (18 oz) flour
• Pinch of salt

Read about Tuscany wines. Ingredients for the sauce:

• 8 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp aromatic herbs (thyme and marjoram )
• 500 g (18 oz) cherry tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic

See all out cooking vacations in Tuscany. Instructions 1. Start by making the pasta. Place the flour onto a board, and make a well in the center. 2. In the well, add water and slowly mix the flour, and continue to add a bit more water as the dough starts coming together. Your goal is a soft but not sticky mixture. Don’t worry if it becomes stiff, as the dough will relax when it rests. 3. Form the dough into a ball, then cover loosely with a plastic wrap and set aside for 20 minutes. 4. Cut the dough into very thin pieces. 5. Roll each piece into a snake about ½ cm in diameter and 30-60 cm long. Continue until all the dough has been cut and rolled. Learn about drying fresh herbs at home. See part 2 of our video on how to make pici pasta: Check out our interview with Chef Silvia.  6. Next, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a saucepan along with the chopped garlic. Cook until the garlic is soft but not brown. 7. Add the cherry tomatoes (each chopped into four pieces), along with salt and pepper. Cook rapidly, stirring occasionally. 8. Add the aromatic herbs. 9. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil and drop in the pici pasta. 10. Boil the pici until they rise to the top, and then remove them with a slotted skimmer. 11. Transfer the pasta into the pan with the sauce. Add a handful of grated or, even better, shaved aged pecorino cheese. Serve immediately, perhaps with a fine Baracchi rose wine from the estate’s winery! Interested in more pasta recipes? Try these dishes from our cooking vacations in Italy:

• Pasta Medici from Cooking under the Tuscan Sun
• Umbricelli Pasta with Black Truffle” from A Food Lover’s Paradise in Norcia
• Pasta alla norma from our Sicily cooking vacations
• Ancient Grain Pasta with “Sugo Finto” from Living the Real Tuscan Dream

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