Elevate your meals with our easy fresh pasta recipe, a delight that’s truly quick to put together! There’s nothing quite like homemade pasta, which readily absorbs the flavors of your sauce and cooks in just a few minutes once shaped. You’re in for a straightforward process, whether mixing by hand or using a food processor, proving that delicious fresh pasta is always worth the minimal time and effort. There are many benefits to fresh pasta. Give it a try!
Mixing the fresh pasta dough
Please refer to my Measuring Flour post if you need help measuring flour. There are two ways to mix the dough. The first is by hand. Make a well with the flour and add the eggs, oil, and salt into the well. Use a fork to start bringing the flour into the well. Keep going around the edge of the well without letting the liquid escape. Once combined, knead with your hands until a smooth ball is achieved.
The other way is to use a food processor. This is the quicker method and the one I use. Start by putting the salt and flour into the processor. Pulse it a couple of times to aerate the dough. Then while the processor is going, add the eggs and oil. The dough will start to form a ball while in the processor. If it doesn’t, add a tablespoon of water and it will. This is the time to take the dough out and place it on a lightly floured board. Knead the dough for a few minutes and form the dough into a smooth ball. Form into a ball with either method, cover and let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
Rolling and cooking
Rolling the pasta with a rolling pin or using a pasta rolling machine both work great! I have used both and prefer the pasta rolling machine. Once you have rolled and cut the pasta into the shape you like, it is time to cook it. How do I know when fresh pasta is cooked? This fresh pasta recipe ends with a quick boiling of the pasta. I do not let the pasta dry. Once I roll or shape it, it goes into the pot of salted boiling water. The pasta is cooked in just minutes! When I see it start to float I take it out. That is the texture my family likes.
This recipe can be used with Reuben Ravioli, Spicy Blush Sauce Recipe, and Spinach and Artichoke Pasta, or my Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce, and my Blackened Lemon shrimp pasta. You can also add fresh ricotta to the pasta.
FAQ’s
Fresh pasta cooks incredibly fast! It usually takes just a few minutes in salted boiling water. You’ll know it’s done when it starts to float to the top.
No, you don’t! While a pasta rolling machine works great and is preferred by some, you can absolutely roll and cut your fresh pasta using just a rolling pin.
Yes, absolutely! The recipe provides instructions for both methods. You can make a well with the flour and gradually incorporate the wet ingredients by hand, then knead until smooth.
After forming the dough into a smooth ball, it’s essential to cover it and let it rest for at least 30 minutes. This allows the dough to relax and fully hydrate, making it much easier to roll.
For this specific recipe, you don’t need to dry the pasta. Once you’ve rolled and cut it into your desired shape, it can go straight into a pot of salted boiling water.
All-purpose flour works perfectly for this fresh pasta recipe. However, you can experiment with different flours to discover textures or flavors your family enjoys.
Fresh Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups of all purpose or 00 flour
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt
Instructions
- Use a food processor to make the pasta dough recipe.
- Place salt and flour in the food processor and pulse two or three times to aerate the flour.
- While the processor is running, add the eggs and olive oil
- When the dough comes together, stop the processor and place the dough on a lightly floured surface. See notes for pasta not coming together.
- Knead dough and form into a ball. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
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