Fregola is a tiny, pearl-shaped pasta from Sardinia, Italy, made by rolling semolina dough into small balls before toasting them to varying degrees of golden brown. This ancient pasta's distinctive nutty flavor and chewy texture comes from this toasting process, setting it apart from similar pastas like Israeli couscous. Home cooks can prepare fregola by boiling it like regular pasta, then using it in salads, soups, or as a hearty side dish. It particularly shines in seafood preparations or mixed with roasted vegetables. When you're looking to break out of your pasta routine, fregola offers Mediterranean charm and versatility in a delightfully toasty package.