Acini di pepe – an extremely small, round pasta shape – translates to a peppercorn, or seeds of the pepper. It comes from the Latin word acinus, meaning grape stones. Though this tiny pasta translates to peppercorns, it is in fact much smaller than this. Acini di pepe is actually the size of a grain of couscous! They are a symbol of fertility, which is why they are used in the popular vegetable-based dish, Italian wedding soup.

In fact, acini di pepe is perfect for most soups. Typically made from traditional semolina flour, they’re meant to be served in lighter, broth-based soups and pasta salads.