Making home-made pasta is surprisingly easy and a skill that every home cook should add to their repertoire. If you haven’t made pasta before, it can feel a little intimidating. But, it’s actually a fun and rewarding process.
Making your own pasta means that you’re in complete control. With you at the helm, you can make your pasta dish however you want it. Want a pasta dish made only with fresh ingredients or organic flours? Go ahead. Want to make pasta into a specific shape or cut? No one can stop you.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through every step of making delicious handmade pasta from scratch. Let’s get cooking!
Gather the Necessary Ingredients
Making your own homemade pasta requires just a handful of simple ingredients. To get started, you will need all-purpose flour, eggs, sea salt, and extra virgin olive oil.
All-purpose flour is the most versatile type of wheat flour and is best used for making pasta because of its medium gluten content. This provides the perfect texture and consistency for the dough.
Sea salt is key in bringing out the flavour of the pasta, while the extra virgin oil helps make the dough more malleable and easier to work with. You’ll also want eggs, as they are going to be the main binding element in your pasta dough.
Create a Nest
After getting everything you need, gather all the ingredients and place them onto a clean work surface.
Next, take two or three big handfuls of the all-purpose flour and create a nest by making a well in the centre of it. This is usually done by taking your hand and making circles in the flour until you’ve made a decently sized hole.
It’s important to make sure that the walls of the nest are thick enough so that the eggs don’t spill out during the mixing process.
Work the Flour and Mixture into a Dough Ball
Using a fork or a whisk, beat two eggs together in a small bowl and then add them to the flour nest. Once that’s done, add a pinch of sea salt and one tablespoon of warm water.
Begin working the flour and egg mixture together with your hands. Continue working the dough until it comes together in a nice, smooth ball.
Don’t be afraid to keep adding water if the dough is feeling a bit too dry. However, you should be careful not to add too much, as this can make the dough too sticky and unworkable.
Knead the Dough
Once you have your dough ball, transfer it onto a lightly-floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. A great rule of thumb is to knead until the dough no longer sticks to your hands.
A simple way to knead dough is to flatten it with your hands, fold it in half towards you, and then flatten it again. Turn the dough 45 degrees and repeat the process until you get the consistency you’re going for.
Let the Dough Rest
Once you have finished kneading the dough, wrap it in cling film and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before rolling.
This allows time for the ingredients to combine properly and helps make the dough more malleable and easier to work with.
Roll the Dough Using a Pasta Machine
When your dough is ready, use a rolling pin or a pasta machine to roll it out into thin sheets.
If you’re using a pasta machine, start by setting the machine at its thickest setting and run the dough through one or two times until it’s smooth and uniform. Then, gradually reduce the setting on the machine until you reach your desired thickness.
Shape the Pasta Now that you have a nice sheet of pasta, it’s time to shape and cut it into the desired shapes. If you are making long strands of pasta, such as spaghetti or tagliatelle, you can use the cutting attachment on your pasta machine. For other shapes like ravioli or tortellini, you can use a pastry cutter or knife to cut them into desired sizes and shapes.
There you have it, freshly made pasta from scratch! To finish off the dish, simply cook the pasta in boiling water for a few minutes until they are al dente. Serve your freshly made pasta with your favourite sauce, garnishes, and grated cheese and enjoy.
If you’re not able to visit your favourite Italian restaurant, this is a great way to bring delicious dishes into your home. If you want a complete banquet, your all-purpose flour can even be used for other dishes like pizza and pastry.
It never hurts to learn new dishes. So, put your apron on, get your rolling pins out, and try your hand at making your own pasta!
