FRESH PASTA

Orecchiette: The Southern Italian Scoop That Wins on Texture (And Margin)

by | Aug 1, 2025 | Uncategorised | 0 comments

Fresh orecchiette pasta by VEDE, handcrafted from semolina and frozen fresh for chefs and commercial kitchens.
VEDE Pasta’s orecchiette is hand-stretched from 100% semolina and frozen fresh using IQF technology, delivering consistent cook performance and traditional texture.

VEDE’s Fresh-Frozen Orecchiette Is Now Landing on Serious Menus Across Queensland

Some pasta shapes are built for visual flair. Others for silky slurp. And some? They’re born to catch.

Orecchiette — literally translating to “little ears” — is a small, domed pasta from Puglia that scoops, holds, and carries whatever you throw at it. But this isn’t just about tradition. It’s about tactile satisfaction — a shape that chefs trust to grip ragù, dress vibrant veg, and deliver real bite with every serve.

Now, VEDE’s fresh-frozen orecchiette is letting kitchens across Queensland and Northern NSW plate this iconic Southern Italian pasta with consistency, confidence, and zero stick.

What Makes Orecchiette Different?

Orecchiette is one of Italy’s oldest handmade shapes. Each little disc is dragged and flipped by hand or tool — forming a dome with a thin rim and thicker base.

That shape gives it:

  • A strong scoop for chunky sauces
  • A tender middle and chewy outer bite
  • Better structure in service (won’t fall flat)
  • A rustic, regional feel that resonates with food lovers

It’s smaller than a spoon, yet bigger on impact than most short pasta cuts.

Why VEDE’s Orecchiette Hits Different

At VEDE, we don’t just mimic the shape — we honour the method. Our orecchiette is:

  • Stretched, not extruded — meaning real bite and handmade feel
  • Made with 100% semolina — no eggs, no dairy
  • IQF frozen — so it cooks from frozen in minutes
  • Packaged for foodservice: 3–6kg cartons
  • Delivered through MOCO Food Services throughout QLD & Northern NSW

Most importantly, it doesn’t collapse in water, get gluey in the bain-marie, or fall apart under chunky sauce.

Why Short Shapes Are the Best Pasta for Functions, Banquets, and Ready-Made Meals

Short cuts like orecchiette are ideal for large-scale service. Their compact size, fast cook time, and ability to hold sauces make them perfect for:

  • Catering trays and hot boxes
  • Bulk-prepared ready-made meals
  • Buffet service and self-serve setups
  • Fast-moving banquet lines

They’re quick to portion, easy to serve, and forgiving under heat lamps or reheating conditions — ideal for high-turnover kitchens.

Hero Dish: Orecchiette with Broccoli, Chilli, Anchovy & Pangrattato

It’s the Southern Italian classic that just works — elevated by texture.

Why chefs love it:

  • Fast assembly for midweek service
  • Vegan-optional (drop anchovy, keep heat)
  • Pangrattato adds crunch, depth, and keeps margins strong
  • Orecchiette’s scoop catches just enough oil and floret to pop on the plate

Whether served hot or tossed for cold banquet bowls, it’s a plate that performs.

Other Dishes VEDE Orecchiette Is Perfect For

Already popular across VEDE venues:

  • Orecchiette with pork & fennel sausage ragù (rustic bistro hero)
  • Orecchiette with roast pumpkin, burnt butter & sage (veg-forward favourite)
  • Chilli crab orecchiette with lemon zest (modern seafood plates)
  • Charred corn, pea, ricotta orecchiette (plant-based summer special)
  • Slow lamb shoulder with gremolata and orecchiette (banquet must-have)

This isn’t just a short cut — it’s a solution for chefs wanting variety without complexity.

Why Short Pasta Shapes Like Orecchiette Matter on a Menu

Here’s what short cuts do that long cuts can’t:

  • Plate faster
  • Cost less per serve
  • Work better in bulk dishes or hot boxes
  • Open the door to tossed, loaded, or composed plates
  • Let protein be the focus — not the twirl

And among short cuts, orecchiette is one of the most visual, handmade-looking options available.

When you’re building share plates, function trays, or warm salad-style offerings, orecchiette earns its place.

Why Chefs Choose Orecchiette Over Dried or Egg-Based

Unlike dried pasta, VEDE orecchiette is:

  • Already shaped and ready — no 9–11 min boiling
  • Far better at holding sauces and oil-based dressings
  • Cooked from frozen — saving fridge space and prep time
  • Vegan, egg-free, and allergen flexible

You get house-made feel, bulk batch ease, and flexible plating — without the hassle of making it from scratch.

What Are Chefs Searching (and Finding) When They Land Here?

This blog is designed to meet real-world chef searches — using data from Google and foodservice insights.

Phrases we’ve matched:

  • “fresh orecchiette pasta supplier”
  • “orecchiette for restaurant use”
  • “short pasta supplier QLD”
  • “IQF frozen pasta wholesale Australia”
  • “best pasta for banquet menus”

If you typed one of those — welcome. You’re in the right place.

Supplied Statewide by MOCO

VEDE’s full pasta range, including orecchiette, is available exclusively via MOCO Food Services — Queensland’s trusted foodservice distributor.

We deliver to:

  • Brisbane
  • Gold Coast
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Ipswich
  • Toowoomba & Scenic Rim
  • Lockyer Valley
  • Northern Rivers & Byron Bay

Ordering through MOCO is as simple as searching “VEDE orecchiette” in your online portal or asking your rep for the latest product guide.

How to Use VEDE Orecchiette in Function Menus

This cut’s a favourite for:

  • Pre-plated entrées at weddings
  • Shared mains for club banquets
  • Catered “build-your-bowl” events
  • Warm side dishes for long-table feasts
  • Paired mains in tasting menus

Its size, shape, and resilience under heat make it the ideal short cut for large format prep — and it reheats without breaking or bloating.

Chef Testimonial

“We were looking for a house-made short shape without adding extra hands to our kitchen. VEDE orecchiette saved our bacon — works for plated and shared.”
— Head Chef, Sunshine Coast restaurant group

VEDE Pasta: Made in Brisbane. Designed for Service.

Orecchiette is just one part of the VEDE short pasta line — also including:

  • Linguine
  • Squid Ink Linguine
  • Mafaldine
  • Fettuccine
  • Pappardelle
  • Spaghetti
  • Strozzaprete
  • Cavatelli
  • Fogliette de Ulivo
  • Strascinate Nero

Short pasta cuts like orecchiette and cavatelli are made fresh and shaped to order — ask us what we can produce for your venue.

Final Scoop

If you’re ready for a short pasta cut that:

  • Holds better
  • Looks better
  • Eats better
  • And lifts your food cost model

…then VEDE orecchiette might just be your new workhorse.

Made with semolina. Built to scoop. Delivered frozen — and ready to serve.

Ready to bring orecchiette to your menu?
vedepasta.com.au/contact