Equipment
Cutting board. Use a wooden board that should be approximately 2 feet wide x 3 feet long (60 x 90 cm), made out of compact hardwood that doesn’t chip when hit by the knife. The long edge should have on the bottom an additional wooden trim. This prevents the board from sliding while you knead the dough.
Rolling pin. This should be one solid perfect wooden cylinder with rounded edges, about 3 feet long (90 cm) x 2 inches in diameter (5 cm).
Knife. Use a sharp cook’s knife.
Spatula. You need a large square spatula to clean the board from pasta residues.
* Sift the flour. Pour it on the wooden board. Shape it into a mound, and hollow the center.
* Break the eggs and pour them in the hollow.
* Add 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt (optional).
* Using a fork, beat the eggs together. Gently bring some of the flour into the egg mix.
* Continue drawing flour into the eggs a little at a the time until all the flour is absorbed.
* Use your hands to obtain a uniform mixture.
* After cleaning the pasta residues off the work surface, pour a thin layer of flour to prevent the fresh pasta from sticking on it.
* Return the dough to the work surface and knead the pasta, pushing with the palm of your hands.
* Alternatively push and fold the dough.
* Repeat this step of pushing and folding for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the dough feels smooth and firm.
* Make a round, smooth ball and place it on a plate.
* Cover with a moistened cloth or a plastic wrap, and let the dough rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Cutting board. Use a wooden board that should be approximately 2 feet wide x 3 feet long (60 x 90 cm), made out of compact hardwood that doesn’t chip when hit by the knife. The long edge should have on the bottom an additional wooden trim. This prevents the board from sliding while you knead the dough.
Rolling pin. This should be one solid perfect wooden cylinder with rounded edges, about 3 feet long (90 cm) x 2 inches in diameter (5 cm).
Knife. Use a sharp cook’s knife.
Spatula. You need a large square spatula to clean the board from pasta residues.
* Sift the flour. Pour it on the wooden board. Shape it into a mound, and hollow the center.
* Break the eggs and pour them in the hollow.
* Add 1 tablespoon of extra-
* Continue drawing flour into the eggs a little at a the time until all the flour is absorbed.
* Use your hands to obtain a uniform mixture.
* After cleaning the pasta residues off the work surface, pour a thin layer of flour to prevent the fresh pasta from sticking on it.
* Return the dough to the work surface and knead the pasta, pushing with the palm of your hands.
* Alternatively push and fold the dough.
* Repeat this step of pushing and folding for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the dough feels smooth and firm.
* Make a round, smooth ball and place it on a plate.
* Cover with a moistened cloth or a plastic wrap, and let the dough rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
PASTA FRESCA 1st STEP - Preparing Fresh Pasta Dough
3 cups flour (15 oz, approximately 400 gr). Use normal unbleached all-purpose flour. Other flours can eventually be used in place of, or in addition to the base flour. Semolina or bran would add more texture to the dough, but make it harder.
4 eggs. Use only very fresh, large eggs. Most of the industrially produced eggs are very light in color and have light taste. Buy eggs that are specifically indicated as having “golden” yolk, from farm-bred chicken.
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. This gives more smoothness to the dough and makes it easier to knead.
optional ingredients
Salt. It is optional, and most pasta makers add salt only to the condiments.
Flavoring ingredients. Additional taste can be given by adding to the dough parmigiano cheese, wine, or spices.
Coloring ingredients. For different coloring use only natural ingredients, such as the saffron for intense yellow, red beet for violet, tomato paste for red, spinach for green, bitter chocolate for dark brown, and squid ink for black. Quantity of egg should be reduced proportionally when adding coloring ingredients.
4 eggs. Use only very fresh, large eggs. Most of the industrially produced eggs are very light in color and have light taste. Buy eggs that are specifically indicated as having “golden” yolk, from farm-
1 tablespoon extra-
optional ingredients
Salt. It is optional, and most pasta makers add salt only to the condiments.
Flavoring ingredients. Additional taste can be given by adding to the dough parmigiano cheese, wine, or spices.
Coloring ingredients. For different coloring use only natural ingredients, such as the saffron for intense yellow, red beet for violet, tomato paste for red, spinach for green, bitter chocolate for dark brown, and squid ink for black. Quantity of egg should be reduced proportionally when adding coloring ingredients.