Host a dinner party and put your friends or family to work! This post will help you make your own homemade pasta from scratch.
Have you ever made your own pasta? It's not nearly as hard as you might think, as long as you have the right tools!
Ingredients you'll need for homemade pasta:
- Flour
- Eggs
- Olive oil
- Salt
Equipment you'll need:
- EITHER a pasta roller machine or the attachment for a KitchenAid mixer.
- A pasta drying rack.
See? Easy peasy.
You can also roll the dough out and slice the noodles by hand without the equipment, but I don't have pictures for that.
The pasta making is the fun part, but you can also make your own homemade marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, salad and/or veggie sides.
But first you might want to whip up a cheese plate. The work will make you hungry.
Start with a clean surface, and measure out 2 cups of flour. Make a well for the eggs and crack open 3 of them. A single batch is enough for about 4 servings. (The pictures are a TRIPLE recipe, so this is 6 cups of flour and 9 eggs.)
Add 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and olive oil, then get to kneading.
It will be a mess for a bit, but eventually it will be a smooth ball of dough.
Separate into smaller balls (4 for a single batch). Now it's time to use your machine or attachment!
Flatten it out slightly with your hands and then run it through the pasta roller. Start at a higher number (thicker) and work your way down to a smaller number (thinner) to get the desired thickness. Usually I make them as thin as they can be without getting holes.
On the topic of holes: it will probably happen the first couple times! Don't fret. Just fold the dough back up and run it back through until you get it smooth.
A stand-alone pasta machine usually has a hand crank. The KitchenAid attachment runs automatically which frees up a hand.
Either way you'll probably need a couple pairs of hands, especially if trying to snap a photo of your handiwork.
Using the cutter part of your pasta machine you'll make your noodles! Separate carefully and place on dryer rack.
Repeat until all dough is flattened and cut.
Boil a big pot of water and then add the pasta. If you doubled or tripled the recipe you'll also want to do this in batches.
In just a couple minutes your pasta will be done! You'll know it's cooked when it floats to the top of the water.
Maybe you also want to chop up some fresh parsley?
Or make your own alfredo or marinara sauce?
Roast up some brussels sprouts? (Cut up and roast at 400°F with some olive oil, salt and pepper until browned. Then top with fresh parmesan.)
Finally, everyone can eat!
Have you ever made homemade pasta?
Make Your Own Homemade Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (more for surface as needed)
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- On a clean surface, measure out flour and make a well in the center.
- Add eggs, olive oil and salt to well and mix by hand to combine. (Can also use mixer if desired.)
- Knead by hand until smooth.
- Separate into 4 smaller balls.
- Using a pasta machine, flatten in stages working your way from higher numbers (thicker) to lower numbers (thinner) to as thin as desired. Will take several times through the machine to work your way down. Then use the pasta cutter part of the machine to make the noodles.
- Separate carefully and hang on pasta rack to let dry slightly. (Note: pasta does not need to dry completely, this is just a way to help separate noodles and store until ready to cook.)
- Repeat steps with remaining dough.
- In a large pot, boil water over high heat. Once boiling, add pasta. Once pasta is cooked (will only take a couple minutes) it will float to the top. Remove pasta from water.
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Dene' V. Alexander says
I absolutely love making pasta from scratch!!! I also love that you put your friends to work!! Hehe, I need to take more notes from you!!
Kelly says
It’s a hands-on dinner party, so fun!
Pam says
I have never made my own pasta from scratch. I really need to try it and taste the difference.
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
How fun! I love the idea of having people over to make pasta together. Great photos, too!
Adriana says
wow homemade pasta and a variety of cheeses I am in for this dining experience. I bet you had a lot of fun in this cooking adventure =)
Renz says
I’ve never done it but always wanted to. I need to get the tools and try it. It looks easy enough. This is a perfect party idea
Veena says
I love making pasta at home. In fact for us it’s a kids project. They love it. Nothing like good homemade pasta..! You pictures are so amazing.
Kelly says
Oh this is a great activity for kids to help with! Thanks Veena!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
We’ve been making our own pasta for years!! It is simple and the taste is phenomenal. You did an nice job in your tutorial.
TerriSue says
After going through two large Kitchen Aid mixers in 12 years we did some research and bought an Ankarsrum mixer. I just bought the pasta maker attachments for it but haven’t used them yet. Your tutorial has given me the courage to do so. I have made pasta by hand in the past just not with a machine. I am having back surgery a week from Wednesday. I now have this on my to do list before it. It will be awhile before I will be able to after and you have definitely whetted my appetite for fresh pasta.
Kelly says
I’m impressed you’ve made the pasta by hand! Let me know how it turns out with the pasta attachments, and good luck with your surgery 🙂
Kylee says
I make pasta all the time, but I’m usually alone – so no one to help me take pics! I love the idea of getting guests involved in their pasta making.
Homemade food just tastes good!
traditionallymodernfood says
I have never prepared homemade pasta. i enjoyed seeing the process. now i want to try it sometime
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Thanks for the detailed recipe. We love pasta and this is something that I have never made from scratch but has been in my to do list for a long time. I am yet to buy the KA pasta attachment and now I know what I need for my birthday.
Olivia Mesquita says
This makes me want to break out the pasta maker we have stashed away and give it another shot! I absolutely love that cheese spread and your table setting in the first photo – so elegant!
Kelly says
Thanks Olivia! I “borrowed” my aunt’s kitchen and dining room set up for this, she has great decorating skills 🙂
Lindy says
I enjoyed reading this and seeing your photos, made me feel I was right there. Still getting over the “fear” of pasta. It’s getting better…and you helped.
Kelly says
So glad to hear that Lindy! It’s a little intimidating the first time, but it’s so worth it!