How To Make Simple Fresh Pasta - Is it worth making fresh pasta? Heck yes, we think so! Homemade pasta really is so different to store brought pasta. We love the process of taking two simple ingredients and working them into something delicious. Our how to guide keeps the recipe and method simple, giving you chance to gain some confidence, then once you are ready this basic dough can be used to cook up a whole range of different delicious pastas and meals. Delicious served with rocket and almond pesto.
Let's get cooking!
Ingredients
A simple recipe with only 2 ingredients:
- 400 g '00' flour - plus a little extra for dusting. '00' refers to the Italian style of flour grading. '00' is a finely ground Italian flour commonly used to make pasta and pizza dough. If you don't have this available or run out, you can replace with a high grade flour.
- 4 large eggs.
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How to make simple fresh pasta
We love taking two everyday ingredients and working them into something tasty. And there's such a variety of pasta you can make from scratch! You will need a pasta machine to work the dough. And you can use a mixer with dough hook for kneading but we like to get stuck in and use our favourite kitchen tool... our hands!
- Sift the flour and place in a large bowl or on a clean surface.
- Make a well in the flour and add the eggs.
- Using a fork, whisk the eggs. Then slowly start drawing in the flour, until you can no longer mix with a fork. Work slowly to combine the ingredients well, it will be quite lumpy at this stage.
- Tip the mixture on to the surface and use your hands to bring the mixture together and form a ball. Knead the dough until smooth. Flour varies from region to region this could take from 5-15 minutes. (You can also use a mixer with dough hook to speed the process up).
- Form a ball, wrap with plastic wrap and place in fridge for 20 mins. (You can leave it wrapped in the fridge overnight, great for prepping ahead)
- Once chilled remove the ball and divide into 4 portions. Re-cover 3 portions, this will stop them from drying out. (You can freeze the dough portions at this stage, for fresh pasta on the go!)
- Set up your pasta machine to the highest setting. Slightly flatten the dough and flour on both sides.
Using a pasta machine
- Work the dough through the pasta machine, fold the dough in half and work through the machine again. Repeat this process 4-6 times to improve the texture, re flour both sides of the dough as required. As you work the dough turn in so opposite sides are going through the machine first. If it starts getting too wide fold the dough in thirds and work it through, this is going to help you create the pasta sheet shape that you want.
- Continue to work the dough through the machine and down the settings until you reach the desired thickness. 2mm thickness works well for linguini.
- Place the dough on a light flour surface and flour both sides of the dough. Then cut the length in half. Place the linguini cutter attachment on to your machine and work each sheet of pasta through it.
- Place the cut linguini on to the floured surface then dust with flour. Make sure to lift the pasta and dust flour all over. This will stop it from sticking, while you prepare the remaining dough.
- Place a large pan of water on to boil, add a pinch of salt. Repeat the process with the remaining portions of dough, until all the pasta is cut.
- Once the pan is boiling add the pasta and allow to cook, this wont take long, around 3-5 mins. Once cooked drain and serve with you favourite paste sauce. Enjoy!
FAQ
Ideally you would use a high grade flour for making pasta, but you can and we have used plain flour if that's all you have available. High grade flour will give you a better texture more easily, but plain flour contains the gluten required for the elasticity, you will just need to work and knead the dough for longer.
We hope our how to make simple fresh pasta guide starts you on your journey of delicious pasta making! Be sure to snap some photos and share with us on social. Can't wait to see what you create!
Love this dish? Please leave us a review below. And come join us on social, tag us in your delicious photos Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Hungry for more deliciousness? Subscribe to our newsletter, to receive our latest e-recipe book and never miss another ATK recipe!
Our goal is to share simple, tasty dishes created by Chef Shane and partner, Sara. Using Shane's understanding of flavours and knowledge of food, to teach and inspire you to create delicious food everyday and gain a new level of confidence in the kitchen. Sara understands what it's like preparing weekly dinners for a busy family of five and likes to create dishes that are easy, full of flavour and that the whole family will enjoy.
Happy cooking!
Recipe
Equipment
- Pasta machine
- Mixer with dough hook optional
Ingredients
- 400 g '00' flour or high grade flour Plus each for dusting
- 4 large Eggs
Instructions
- Sift the flour and place in a large bowl or on a clean surface.
- Make a well in the flour and add the eggs.
- Using a fork, whisk the eggs. Then slowly start drawing in the flour, until you can no longer mix with a fork.
- Tip the mixture on to the surface and use your hands to form a ball. Knead the dough until smooth. (Or use a mixer with dough hook).
- Form a ball, wrap with plastic wrap and place in fridge for 20 mins. (You can leave wrapped in the fridge overnight, great for prepping ahead)
- Once chilled remove ball and divide into 4 portion. Re-cover 3 portions to stop them from drying out. (You can freeze the dough at this stage, for fresh pasta on the go!)
- Set up your pasta machine to the highest setting. Slightly flatten the dough and flour both sides.
- Work the dough through the pasta machine, fold the dough in half and work through the machine again. Repeat this process 4-6 times to improve the texture, re flour both sides of the dough as required. If the sheet gets to wide fold in thirds, to help create the sheet shape you require.
- Continue to work the dough through the machine and down the settings until you reach the desired thickness. 2mm thickness works well for linguine.
- Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and flour both sides of the dough. Then cut the length in half. Place the linguine cutter attachment on to your machine and work each sheet of pasta through it.
- Place the cut linguine on the floured surface then dust with flour.
- Place a large pan of water on to boil and add a pinch of salt.
- Repeat the process with the remaining portions of dough, until all the pasta is cut.
- Once the pan is boiling add the pasta and allow to cook, this wont take long, around 3-5 mins. Once cooked drain and serve with your favourite paste sauce.
Kate
Oh I love making fresh pasta at home, but don't get around to it nearly often enough. Thanks for all the tips - you've inspired me to try it with the kids this weekend!
Danielle
One of my goals for 2022 was to start making fresh pasta. I love that you created such detailed steps on how to do it. I am really looking forward to trying it.
Kechi
I never knew pasta making requires only few ingredients and this easy. Thanks so much for sharing!🙏🏾
Gina
Such a great informative post - I've always wanted to do this myself and feel equipped to try it out now!