HOW TO: Fresh Homemade Pasta

• Vegetarian

• Refrigerated

  • 3 Eggs, large

• Baking & Spices

  • 2 1/2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt

• Oils & Vinegars

  • 1 tbsp Olive oil

• Liquids

  • 1 tbsp Water

Found on cookingandbeer.com

Description

Ingredients

• 3 large eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (more as needed), extra for dusting and rolling out
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon water (more as needed)

Directions

• If you are preparing the pasta dough by hand, meaning you dont have a stand mixer, then skip below to the notes section for instructions.
• To the bowl of your stand mixer, with paddle attachment fixed, add the eggs, flour, olive oil, salt and water. Mix on low speed for 2-3 minutes, or until the dough starts to come together. Switch to the dough hook attachment, and knead the dough for 4-5 minutes or until soft to the touch and pliable. If the dough is too sticky, add flour in small increments. If the dough cracks or seems too dry, add water in small increments until you reach the right consistency. Once your dough reaches the right consistency, form it into a disk and wrap it tightly in a piece of plastic wrap. Set aside for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
• Unwrap your dough and place it on a generously floured surface. Cut it into 4 equal size pieces. Flatten them out with your finger tips (image above).
• With the roller attachment fixed to your stand mixer and set to the lowest setting (1 for KitchenAid), insert the dough through the top. Once it goes through, fold the dough in half. Flour your dough and run it through a second time. Repeat this step, if necessary, flouring when needed, until the sheet is smooth and elastic. Increasing the setting by one step (2 for KitchenAid), insert the sheet again, but dont fold it over this time. Increasing the setting by another step (3 for KitchenAid), insert the sheet once again. Repeat these steps up to your desired thickness. For example, if preparing spaghetti, you will want to go to the 6th setting. (See steps above in the post for instructions on rolling dough out by hand).
• Change the attachment to the appropriate cutter. Generously flour the dough, and insert the dough carefully through the top of the attachment. Once you have the pasta cut, toss with a little bit of flour to prevent it from sticking. Set aside, covered with a damp paper towel until ready to cook.
• If preparing the pasta dough without a stand mixer (with paddle and dough hook attachments), place the flour on a large surface and create a well in the middle. Add the eggs, oil, salt and water. Beat the egg mixture with a fork to break up the eggs and then fold the ingredients together by hand until a soft dough forms then knead for 3-4 minutes by hand. Form it into a ball, cover it with plastic wrap and set at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough out to 1/4-1/8 inch thick on a generously floured surface. Fold it over and then roll it out again to 1/4-1/8 inch thick. Repeat this one more time. Continue instructions for cutting the dough into noodles without a pasta cutter.
• Follow each step from above up until you reach the pasta cutting stage.
• Place the pasta sheets on a large cutting board, and cut strips about 1/2 inch thick (or your desired thickness) with a sharp knife.
• Continue with the instructions from above.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 2-4 minutes for fresh pasta.
• Serve with your favorite sauce.
• If you wish to dry your pasta for later use, you may do this in a couple of ways. If you have a drying rack, it is best to prepare your pasta as explained above and then drape it over a drying rack until completely dry. This time with vary upon your conditions, but will normally take about 8-10 hours in a dryer climate.
• You may also dry the pasta in nests. Place nests of pasta on a piece of parchment paper and dry fully on one side, about 4-5 hours. Flip the nests and dry on the other side, about 2-3 hours.
• Store your pasta in an airtight container for about a month.