Acini di pepe

{{Short description|Type of pasta}}

{{One source|date=November 2024}}

{{Italics title}}

{{Infobox food

| name = Acini di pepe

| image = Acini di Pepe.jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| alternate_name = Pastina

| country = Italy

| region =

| creator =

| course =

| type = Pasta

| served =

| main_ingredient =

| variations =

}}

{{lang|it|Acini di pepe}} ({{IPA|it|ˈaːtʃini di ˈpeːpe|lang}}; {{literally|seeds of pepper}}) is a type of pasta. {{lang|it|Acini}} is the plural of {{lang|it|acino}} whose root is the Latin word acinus. In both Latin and Italian, the word means 'grape' or 'grape-stones', with the "stones of a grape" being the seeds of the grape. {{lang|it|Acini di pepe}} then translates into 'seeds of a pepper'. It was and is known as a symbol of fertility, which is why it is used in Italian wedding soup. It is also sometimes referred to as pastina ({{literally|little pasta}}); however, some pasta makers distinguish pastina as smaller than {{lang|it|acini di pepe}}. The individual pieces usually resemble tiny cylinders about 1mm, or less, in each dimension.

{{lang|it|Acini di pepe}} is often used in Italian wedding soup.{{Cite web |title=Italian Wedding Soup Recipe |url=https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024492-italian-wedding-soup |access-date=3 November 2024 |website=New York Times Cooking}}