Description
This Fresh Homemade Pasta Delight recipe guides you through making tender, flavorful pasta from scratch using simple ingredients like all-purpose flour, fresh eggs, salt, and olive oil. With step-by-step instructions on kneading, rolling, cutting, and cooking, this recipe is perfect for anyone looking to experience authentic, fresh pasta right at home.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta Dough
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 3 large Eggs
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 handful Flour for Dusting
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Begin by collecting all necessary ingredients including all-purpose flour, eggs, salt, and olive oil to ensure a smooth workflow.
- Prepare the Flour Mound: On a clean, flat work surface, pile the flour into a mound and create a well in the center to hold the wet ingredients.
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Crack the eggs into the well, add salt and olive oil, then gently beat with a fork, gradually incorporating flour from the edges.
- Knead the Dough: When the mixture starts to coalesce, knead it by hand for 8-10 minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic, and cohesive.
- Rest the Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to relax the gluten.
- Divide the Dough: Cut the rested dough into four equal pieces and keep covered with a damp cloth to prevent drying out while working with each piece.
- Flatten Dough Piece: Take one piece and flatten slightly using your hands; dust your work surface generously with flour to avoid sticking.
- Roll the Dough: Roll out the dough with a rolling pin or pasta machine evenly to your preferred thickness suitable for the desired pasta shape.
- Cut the Pasta: Use a sharp knife or pasta cutter to slice the rolled-out dough into your desired shapes such as fettuccine, tagliatelle, or pappardelle.
- Dust Cut Pasta: Lightly dust the freshly cut pasta with flour to prevent sticking and set it aside while you finish with remaining dough pieces.
- Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the fresh pasta and cook for 2 to 4 minutes depending on thickness for al dente texture.
- Check Doneness: Taste a piece to ensure the pasta is cooked to your liking, tender but still slightly firm to the bite.
- Drain and Reserve Water: Drain the cooked pasta, reserving a small amount of cooking water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Serve with Sauce: Toss the drained pasta gently with your favorite sauce, using reserved water if necessary, and serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Resting the dough is crucial for gluten relaxation and easier rolling.
- Use plenty of flour when rolling and cutting to prevent sticking.
- Fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta; keep an eye on cooking time.
- Reserved pasta water contains starch that helps thicken and bind sauces.
- Experiment with different pasta shapes or sauces to suit your preferences.
