Bravo! Yes, many of you guessed that the image was of orecchiete! Orecchiette, is a wonderful, Puglian-type pasta, often called “little ears.” Orecchio means “ear,” and orecchiette means “little ears.” I took this photo while I was in Puglia on a research trip. Here is one of my favorite pasta dishes, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Buon appetito!

Orecchiette with Braised Artichokes
Orecchiette con Carciofi

Makes 6 servings

10 small fresh artichokes (about 1-1/2 pounds)
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for finishing the pasta if you like
6 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper, or less to taste
1 to 1-1/2 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 pound orecchiette pasta
1 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Clean the artichokes as described here for fully edible artichokes, and put the pieces in water acidulated with lemon juice as you go.  When all the artichokes are cleaned, drain them thoroughly and slice them very thin.

Bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil in an 8-quart pot over high heat.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Scatter the garlic over the oil and cook, shaking the pan, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the artichokes and crushed red pepper and season lightly with salt. Stir well to coat the artichokes with oil, and cook, stirring often, until the artichokes are softened, about 5 to 10 minutes. Pour in 1 cup of the chicken stock, add the mint and parsley, and lower the heat so the sauce is at a lively simmer. Cook until the artichokes are very tender and the liquid is reduced by about half, about 10 minutes more. Add the remaining stock as necessary to keep the artichokes moist as they cook.

Stir the orecchiette into the boiling water. Return to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook the pasta, semi-covered, stirring occasionally, until done, 8 to 10 minutes. If the skillet is large enough to accomodate the sauce and pasta, fish the pasta out of the boiling water with a large wire skimmer and drop it directly into the sauce in the skillet. If not, drain the pasta, return it to the pot, and pour in the sauce. Bring the sauce and pasta to a boil, stirring to coat the pasta with sauce. Check the seasoning, adding salt if necessary. Pour in a drizzle of olive oil, if you like. Check the seasoning, adding salt if necessary. Pour in a drizzle of olive oil, if you like. Remove the skillet from the heat, sprinkle the grated cheese over the pasta, and toss to mix. Serve immediately in warm bowls.