Orecchiette Cooking Class in Salento: Make Fresh Pasta

Shape pasta by hand the way Apulian grandmothers do

An orecchiette cooking class in Salento where you learn to knead and hand-shape fresh pasta from a local grandmother, then eat what you've made at a seated dinner with local cheeses, fried bread, panzerotti and three glasses of wine. The class runs three hours total, in English or Italian, and welcomes children from age six.

The experience

You start by learning the technique directly from a local grandmother who has made orecchiette her whole life. She shows you how to knead the dough, then how to shape each piece by hand. The small, ear-shaped pasta that gives the dish its name. The instruction happens in a warm family setting, not a commercial kitchen, and you work through the process at your own pace until you've made enough to cook and eat together.

Once the pasta is ready, you move to the table for a full dinner built around what you've just prepared. The meal includes the orecchiette you made, plus crunchy frise (twice-baked bread), fresh local cheeses, and panzerotti (fried pastry pockets filled with mozzarella and tomato). Three glasses of local wine accompany the courses, each one chosen to pair with the food. The whole experience (from the first knead to the last bite) takes three hours.

The class includes an apron and all the tools you need to make the pasta. A guide fluent in English or Italian leads the session, and children are welcome from age six onward. This is not a demonstration you watch. It's a skill you practice with your hands, then immediately taste the result.

What’s included

• Instruction from a local grandmother.
• apron and pasta-making tools.
• three glasses of local wine.
• dinner with orecchiette you made, frise, local cheeses, and panzerotti.

Options for this experience

2 options

Orecchiette cooking class in Ostuni, including an Apulian dinner and wineGuide in English or Italian · Available from 15 Mar 2027

Pizzica dance class can be addedGuide in English or Italian · Available from 15 Mar 2027Lasts 4 hours. In this pizzica dance class, a lively and enjoyable lesson teaches the basic steps of pizzica in a laid-back, friendly setting.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 15 Mar 2027

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Not recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Senti La Puglia

Is this one for you?The three-hour format keeps the whole experience (learning and eating) in one session, so you don't need to arrange separate meals or transportation elsewhere in Salento. The small group setting with a single guide means you get direct instruction and can work at your own pace.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I learn to make in this class?

Orecchiette, the hand-shaped pasta that is iconic to Apulia. You learn to knead the dough and shape each piece by hand under the guidance of a local grandmother who has made it for years.

Do I eat what I make, or is it just a lesson?

You cook and eat the orecchiette you've made, along with a full dinner of local Apulian dishes. The meal includes fresh cheeses, fried bread, panzerotti, and three glasses of local wine.

How long does the whole class take?

Three hours total, from the pasta-making instruction through the seated dinner.