• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cooking My Dreams
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Work with me
    • Portfolio
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Work with me
  • Subscribe!
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Fresh Pasta » How to make Pici Pasta (no tools needed)

    How to make Pici Pasta (no tools needed)

    Published: Feb 5, 2023 · Modified: Feb 17, 2023 by Jessica Montanelli · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Sharing is caring!

    0 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • WhatsApp
    • Yummly
    • Email
    Total time to make this recipe: 35 minutes minutes
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    raw handmade pici pasta

    Making hand-rolled Pici Pasta is so easy, it's the first pasta shape I recommend trying to make when learning pasta making. It can be done with kids, too! Learn to make this traditional Tuscan pasta with this comprehensive step-by-step guide.

    raw handmade pici pasta

    When people think about making fresh homemade pasta, they always think it's a long and laborious process, but it's actually quite easy and fun once you have the right recipe and follow the right steps.

    For more details on fresh pasta, check out this guide on how to make 10 different pasta shapes without a pasta machine.

    Tuscan Pici is one of the easiest pasta shapes to make and is the best way to approach pasta making for the first time. The most traditional Pici recipes in Tuscany are Pici Cacio e Pepe, and Pici all'Aglione (Garlic Tomato sauce). But they're also delicious with Classic Tuscan Ragù.

    Jump to:
    • What are Pici
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • What sauce to pair with Pici pasta
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • 💭 FAQ & Tips
    • Top tip
    • Related Recipes you might like
    • 📖 RECIPE

    What are Pici

    Pici (pronounced Pee-chee), are also called "Pici Senesi" or "Pici Toscani" because they originate from the province of Siena in Tuscany (my hometown).

    They're thick long spaghetti, very similar to the Japanese Udon noodles but with more bite.

    Pici are made with only flour and water but when made in large quantities, an egg can also be added to make the dough more kneadable.

    Ingredients

    To make Pasta you only need 2 or 3 ingredients, but some are more important than others. Read below the information on each.

    ingredients to make pici pasta
    • All Purpose Flour. This is the most important ingredient to make pasta. All Purpose flour is used for egg pasta and Pici pasta because it's very flexible. You can make Pici also with 100% All Purpose flour, without Semolina, but personally, I prefer the texture of both flours mixed together in equal quantity.
    • Semolina Flour. Fine semolina flour (Semola rimacinata) is usually used to make eggless pasta, such as Cavatelli, Trofie, or Orecchiette, all short-cut pasta that doesn't need to be stretched thin. Pici are the only exception being a long-cut pasta shape because they need both Semolina for consistency and All Purpose for flexibility.
    • Olive Oil. Oil and salt are not really important to make handmade pasta and you can also skip them without majorly impacting the end result. But I like to add a tiny drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt to the dough.

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    semolina flour and oil in a blue bowl

    In a large bowl, add the all-purpose flour, fine semolina flour, salt, and a drizzle of olive oil.

    fork mixing the flour while water is added to the bowl

    Mix all the ingredients and add the water a little bit at a time, until the dough comes together, then knead it with your hands into a ball.

    hand cutting strips of pasta dough on a wooden board

    Roll the pasta on a cutting board, then cut it into thick strips.

    hands rolling the pici pasta on a wooden board

    Roll each strip with the palms of your hands to make the pici pasta shape. Boil the pasta for 2-3 minutes in salted water.

    Hint: It's not necessary to rest Pici pasta, but you can leave it to rest on a clean towel dusted with flour for a few hours or overnight. The longer you leave it to dry, the longer it will take to cook, so make sure to taste and adjust the cooking time accordingly.

    What sauce to pair with Pici pasta

    Pici work well with creamy and smooth sauces, either tomato-based or not.

    • Tomato Sauce - Try the classic garlic tomato sauce from Pici all'Aglione, or a classic Italian Tomato Sauce, Spicy Arrabbiata Sauce, or a delicious Amatriciana Sauce with guanciale and onion.
    • Cheese Sauce - A delicious and classic Cacio e Pepe, or even a flavorful Four Cheese Sauce, or a simple Parmesan Cream sauce.
    • Ragù - The most traditional and most loved pairing in Tuscany. A classic Tuscan Ragù, or even a more challenging game ragù like Wild Boar Ragù, or Ragù di Nana (duck ragù).
    • Mushrooms - During mushroom season you can taste Pici with delicious Porcini mushrooms, wild mushrooms, or Boscaiola sauce with mushrooms and bacon.
    • Breadcrumbs - Sugo alle Briciole is another traditional way to serve Pici. With sourdough breadcrumbs, anchovies, garlic, olive oil, and Pecorino cheese.

    Equipment

    You basically don't need any equipment to make Pici pasta, but here are some tools that can make the process easier:

    • Wooden Pastry Board. A large wooden board is very useful in making pasta, it's perfect to knead the dough and has enough space to roll it. The peculiarity of this type of board is that it blocks on the table edge so it doesn't slide when you use it.
    • Pasta Cutter. Pasta is stretchy and cutting strips or shapes with a knife would be quite difficult. A pasta wheel it's super handy as it cuts pasta effortlessly.
    • Pasta Drying Rack. If you don't have much surface space to let the pasta rest on a clean towel, you can use this drying rack to hang the pasta.
    • Rolling Pin. Pasta rolling pins are long and thin, but you can use any standard pastry rolling pin to roll pasta by hand.
    • Pasta Machine. If instead, you want to roll pasta without much effort, you can use the classic pasta machine. There are also electric pasta machines or Kitchenaid extensions.

    Storage

    Eggless pasta, like Pici, can be air-dried for a few hours or even days. Use a pasta drying rack or let it sit on a clean towel until you're ready to cook it. Keep in mind that the longer you dry it, the longer it will take to cook (fully dried Pici can take up to 15 minutes to cook). So taste and adjust the cooking time accordingly.

    You can also freeze uncooked fresh pasta. Make the Pici into loose nests and place the nests on a tray to freeze for about an hour so they don't stick to each other. After 1 hour, you can move them to a freezer bag or container for up to 6 months. Toss the frozen pasta directly into boiling water and boil for 4-5 minutes.

    handmade pici pasta on a table

    💭 FAQ & Tips

    Can you make Pici in advance?

    Yes, you can make Pici pasta in advance and either air-dry it by letting it rest on a pasta drying rack or on a clean towel dusted with flour. Or you can freeze it for up to 6 months.

    Can you freeze pasta?

    Yes, you can freeze all types of pasta. First, lay it on a tray and freeze it for an hour so it doesn't stick into a pasta mass. Then you can transfer the frozen pasta to a freezer bag for up to 6 months. Toss the frozen pasta directly into boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes longer.

    Which sauce should I pair with Pici?

    All kinds of sauces can be paired with Pici. Scroll up on the post to find a list of the most classic and best sauces to pair with Pici.

    Top tip

    If you struggle with sticky pasta, always keep some flour by hand. Dust your hands, board, and rolling pin with plain flour while you work the dough. When the pasta is ready, dust it with semolina flour before letting it rest on the towel. Semolina flour will prevent the pasta from sticking to itself, but also leave a more pleasant texture when cooked, while a coat of plain flour on the pasta will leave a slightly slimy texture.

    Related Recipes you might like

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • bowl of seafood stew with ocean in the background.
      10+ Italian Seafood Dishes You've Probably Never Heard of
    • overhead photo of various bowls of pasta and sauces
      An Easy Guide to Italian Pasta Shapes and Sauces
    • oval baking dish with tomato cheese baked tortellini
      Cheesy Baked Tortellini with Mozzarella and Tomato Sauce
    • handmade ravioli on a table with a rolling pin and a cutter
      How to make perfect handmade Ravioli (complete step-by-step guide)

    📖 RECIPE

    raw handmade pici pasta

    Pici Pasta

    Making hand-rolled Pici Pasta is so easy, this classic Tuscan pasta shape goes well with many sauces and it's fun and easy to make!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 people
    Author: Jessica Montanelli

    Ingredients

    • 3 oz All Purpose Flour
    • 3 oz Semolina Flour
    • Water
    • Salt
    • Olive Oil

    Instructions

    • Mix the two flours in a large bowl and drizzle a little bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Slowly add some water and start mixing with your hands, adding more water a little bit at a time until the dough starts coming together.
    • After a few minutes of kneading, you should have a round soft ball, which is not crumbly nor sticky.
    • Cover the dough ball in plastic wrap and set aside to rest for about 15 minutes.
    • To make the Pici, roll the pasta dough and cut it into strips, then roll them with both your hands on the cutting board to get the thick pasta strings. Try to keep the same thickness on the whole lenght, to cook it uniformly.
    • To cook, toss the Pici in a large pot of boiling salted water and boil for 3-4 minutes. Drain and serve with the sauce of choice.

    Video

    Notes

    Fresh pasta (when eggless) can be made in advance and dried at room temperature. You can also freeze it when raw and then toss directly the frozen pasta in boiling water to cook.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 308 kcal | Carbohydrates: 63 g | Protein: 10 g | Fat: 1 g | Saturated Fat: 0.1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1 g | Sodium: 1 mg | Potassium: 125 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 0.1 g | Calcium: 14 mg | Iron: 4 mg

    Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Have you tried this recipe?Snap a photo and tag @jess.cookingmydreams or use the hashtag #cookingmydreams!
    « Italian Street Food: A Guide to the Best Traditional Dishes
    Espresso Coffee Panna Cotta »

    Sharing is caring!

    0 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • WhatsApp
    • Yummly
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Jessica! Born and raised in Siena, Tuscany, I've been immersed in the rich traditions of Italian cuisine my entire life. Through my food blog, I hope to share a slice of Tuscan warmth and the genuine flavors that have been a part of my journey since childhood.

    More about me →

    • jess.cookingmydreams
    • Cooking my Dreams
    • jess.cookingmydreams

    Popular Recipes

    • overhead plate with salmon ravioli in cream sauce
      Ricotta and Smoked Salmon Ravioli
    • black pepper with pici cacio e pepe pasta with a fork
      Pici Cacio e Pepe (Tuscan Pasta with Creamy Cheese and Black Pepper Sauce)
    • baked spinach ricotta cannelloni in a cheesy white sauce.
      Classic Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni
    • Classic Tuscan Lasagna (with Ragù and Béchamel)
    • stack of frozen mirepoix portions
      Soffritto (Mirepoix): What it is, how to use and how to freeze
    • overhead photo of black plate with pasta
      Pasta with Easy Creamy Eggplant Sauce

    Subscribe and get a Free E-Cookbook

    As Seen In

    Summer Recipes

    • bread and tomatoes on a wooden cutting board
      Classic Tomato Bruschetta
    • campari spritz in a glass next to orange slices and peanuts
      Campari Spritz
    • large bowl with couscous and a spoon, next to a smaller bowl with a portion
      Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Lemon Herb Dressing
    • glasses with strawberry tiramisu surrounded by strawberries.
      Strawberry Tiramisù (with pasteurized eggs)

    Follow me

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Portfolio
    • Cooking Classes

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    0 shares