Puglia: Orecchiette Cooking Class in Trullo House & Lunch

Summary

Make orecchiette in a trullo house share lunch with locals taste puglia’s slow rhythms

You’ll knead dough under an old trullo roof and learn to shape orecchiette by hand with a local cook guiding you every step. Gather fresh herbs from the garden, share stories over a three-course lunch with regional wine, and feel that slow Puglian pace settle into your bones.

What’s the experience like?

You know that feeling when you step into someone’s home and instantly smell bread, or maybe it’s tomatoes simmering? That’s how our day started in Puglia — not in some big kitchen, but right outside a trullo, those funny little white houses you see on postcards. Our host, Anna, waved us in with flour-dusted hands and I realized I’d never actually made pasta from scratch before. She laughed at my first try (the orecchiette looked more like tiny hats than ears) but kept saying “piano, piano” — slow down. The wind kept blowing flour everywhere. I still find it in my camera bag.

We wandered through the garden to pick wild herbs — mint and something Anna called cicorielle, which I probably mispronounced three times. There were tomatoes warm from the sun and these little melons that tasted sweeter than they looked. Lunch was built out of what we picked: the orecchiette with sauce (I went for the veggie one), some kind of starter bread called frisa that soaks up olive oil like a sponge, then meat rolls for the others. There was always wine on the table — red, local stuff, rough around the edges but perfect for this place.

At some point Anna told stories about her grandmother making pasta on Sundays, how everyone would gather around this same wooden board. The light shifted through the olive trees outside and I just sat there chewing slowly, thinking about how time moves differently here. After coffee (strong enough to wake up your ancestors), we lingered — nobody rushing us out. I still think about that view from the garden gate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Orecchiette cooking class and lunch

• Arrive at Trullo house
• Learn history of Trulli buildings
• Collect wild herbs and garden produce
• Make orecchiette pasta by hand
• Prepare meat and vegetable sauces
• Cook seasonal vegetables and appetizers
• Enjoy three-course lunch together

Top questions

Where does the Puglia orecchiette cooking class take place?

The class is held at a traditional trullo house near Alberobello in Puglia.

How long is the cooking class and lunch experience?

The full experience lasts about 4.5 hours including meal time.

Is lunch included in the orecchiette class?

Yes, a three-course lunch based on what you prepare is included.

Are vegetarian or vegan options available?

Yes, vegetarian, vegan, celiac and lactose-free options are available if requested when booking.

Do I need to bring anything for the cooking class?

No, all ingredients and equipment are provided for you.

Is transportation or parking available?

You can park at the location; public transport is nearby but not included.

What dishes will we make during the class?

You’ll make orecchiette pasta with sauce (meat or vegetable), plus appetizers and seasonal sides.

Can children join this Puglia cooking class?

Yes, kids are welcome to join and participate in all activities.

What’s included

Your day includes all cooking ingredients and equipment, hands-on instruction from a local host inside their trullo home, a short history walk about trulli architecture if you’re curious, plus a leisurely three-course lunch featuring your handmade orecchiette pasta (with meat or vegetable sauce), appetizers like frisa or acqua sala, seasonal vegetables from the garden, fruit picked fresh if it’s ripe enough to eat right there, coffee or tea at the end — and plenty of regional red wine throughout lunch. Parking is available onsite; dietary needs can be accommodated if you let them know ahead of time.