If you're a fan of Italian cuisine, there's nothing more satisfying than making your own fresh pasta. Not only does it taste better, but it also gives you the opportunity to experiment with various flavours and textures. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of making fresh pasta from scratch and share 4 traditional Italian pasta recipes: spaghetti, fettuccine, lasagna, and ravioli.
Ingredients for Fresh Pasta
Before we dive into the recipes, let's talk about the ingredients. Fresh pasta is deceptively simple; all you need is:
- Flour
- Eggs
- Salt
- (Optional) Olive oil
The type of flour used can vary depending on the recipe, but the most commonly used are '00' flour and semolina flour. The '00' flour gives the pasta a smooth texture, while the semolina flour gives it a slightly rougher texture which is perfect for holding sauces.
Making Pasta Dough
Making pasta dough is a simple process that requires few ingredients but a bit of patience. Here are the steps to make homemade pasta:
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Make a well in the middle of your flour. Pour your flour onto a clean surface and make a well in the middle. This is where you'll be adding your eggs.
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Crack the eggs into the well. Add the eggs into the well, and sprinkle in a pinch of salt. You can also add a drizzle of olive oil at this stage, although this is optional.
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Slowly mix the eggs with the flour. Using a fork, start to slowly mix the flour into the eggs. Try to keep the eggs within the well to prevent them from spreading out too much.
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Knead the dough. Once you've mixed enough flour into the eggs that they're not likely to run, start to knead the dough. Flatten it, fold it, and then turn it 90 degrees. Repeat this process for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
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Let the dough rest. Wrap your dough in cling film and let it rest for at least 30 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax, making the dough easier to roll out and shape.
Now that you have your pasta dough, it's time to move onto the recipes. Each of the following recipes is a traditional Italian dish, and they each showcase a different type of pasta.
Spaghetti
Spaghetti is a long, thin pasta that's perfect for light sauces. Here's how to make it:
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Roll out your pasta dough until it's thin enough to see your hand through it.
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Cut the dough into long, narrow strips.
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Let the strips dry before cooking them. This will make them less likely to stick together.
Fettuccine
Fettuccine is a thicker, flat pasta that's great for heavier sauces. Here's how to make it:
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Roll out your pasta dough until it's about 1mm thick.
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Cut the dough into long, wide strips.
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Let the strips dry before cooking them. This will make them less likely to stick together.
Lasagna
Lasagna is a wide, flat pasta that's typically used in layered dishes. Here's how to make it:
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Roll out your pasta dough until it's about 1mm thick.
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Cut the dough into wide, flat sheets.
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Let the sheets dry before using them. This will make them less likely to stick together.
Ravioli
Ravioli are small pockets of pasta that can be stuffed with a variety of fillings. Here's how to make them:
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Roll out your pasta dough until it's thin enough to see your hand through it.
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Cut the dough into small squares.
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Place a small amount of filling on each square, then fold the dough over the filling and seal the edges.
Making fresh pasta may seem intimidating at first, but with practice, it becomes second nature. Enjoy the process, and before you know it, homemade pasta dishes will become a staple in your kitchen.
