Homemade Pasta

I initially thought that making fresh pasta was very intimidating. But, having seen more and more people succeed in making pasta from scratch, I realised that my perception was wrong. Getting inspired, I began my pasta making journey.

The steps in making pasta are pretty straight-forward. They can be summarised as below:
• Combine the ingredients
• Knead the dough
• Rest the dough
• Roll out the dough
• Cut the pasta
• Dry the pasta
• Cook the pasta (or store it)

Pasta dough is easier to knead than bread dough and no proofing is required. However, it takes a little time and practice to master the skill.

Pasta can be made with just a rolling pin and a knife. But, if you want to save some works on rolling and cutting, then invest in a pasta machine. There are many different brands of pasta machine and noodle maker available now. Choose one that suits your budget and requirement. I made my pasta with the help of a simple, hand operated pasta machine, Marcato Altas 150 (refer to Page 2 for photo) which comes with 2 cutting rollers (fettuccine and tagliolini).

Fresh pasta needs more time to prepare but it is definitely worth the effort. You will be rewarded with fresher, healthier and better tasting pasta that you can’t find from store-bought. But remember, any change of ingredient or technique will affect the texture, flavour and colour of your pasta. The article titled “The Science of Best Fresh Pasta” in SeriousEats has covered many important aspects and techniques in making pasta from the scientific point of view. It is a must read for all beginners.

Today, I am going to share a simple yet versatile homemade pasta recipe with you. This recipe only uses 4 ingredients: flour, eggs, salt and oil. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right for the first time. With this basic recipe, you can move on to customise your own pasta later. For example, adding vegetable juice and puree to make it pack with more nutrients.

In this recipe, I have also included a number of handy tips and notes which I have gathered from other references as well as from my personal experience. If you still have doubts, watch this video clip – “How to Make Authentic Egg Pasta by the world renowned Sorelle Simili [Simili Sisters] of Italy”. I hope this will give you more confident (rather than confusion) in your first pasta making attempt. Are you ready?

Go to PAGE 2 BELOW for Recipe and Step by Step tutorial for Homemade Pasta.