Fresh Pasta

Combine durum wheat flour and semolina flour in a large bowl. Bringa small saucepan of water to a bare simmer.

Add 2/3 cup hot water to flours and mix with a fork until mixture just comes together. Turn out dough onto a surface lightly dusted with durum wheat flour and knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes (alternatively, using a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix on low speed, about 5 minutes). Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; let sit 1 hour at room temperature.

DO AHEAD: Pasta dough can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap tightlyand chill.

Orecchiette How-To

After making and kneading the doughand lightly flouring your work surface, slice off a few 1/2"-thick planks, then cut lengthwise into 1/2"-wide pieces. Keep remaining dough wrapped in plastic as you work.

Roll each piece into a 1/4"-thick rope and cut crosswise into 1/2"-longpieces. Using the sharp edge of a paring knife (or your thumb), simultaneously press down on the middle of each piece of the dough and push it away from you. The dough should curl up on itself. Push each curled piece inside out, molding it over the tip of your finger to create the "little ear" shape.

Transfer pasta to a rimmed baking sheet dustedwith semolina flour.