Acini di pepe
 | |
| Alternative names | Pastina |
|---|---|
| Type | Pasta |
| Place of origin | Italy |
 Cookbook: Acini di pepe  Media: Acini di pepe | |
Acini di pepe [ˈaːtʃini di ˈpeːpe] are a form of pasta. Their name is Italian for "grains of pepper".
Acini di pepe work well in soups or cold salads. They are also sometimes referred to as pastina (Italian for "tiny dough"); however, some pasta makers distinguish pastina as smaller than acini di pepe. Acini di pepe are often used in Italian wedding soup.
A similar version found in Palestinian cuisine is called Maftool or Maftoul, it is hand-rolled by professionals in large clay pans. Maftoul is a wheat-based dish that is somewhat served like couscous or Moughrabia as it is known in Lebanon and Syria, with whole black peppers, dried cloves, onions and chickpeas or tomato sauce.[1] Maftool, like most couscous dishes, are served with chicken.
Frog's eye salad is an American cold salad that combines the pasta with whipped topping, marshmallows, pineapple and mandarin oranges.