Homemade Pasta
I grew up eating homemade pasta, my Mom made it all the time, she did it all by hand the rolling, cutting etc… no recipe she dumped flour on a work surface added eggs in a well she made in the middle of the flour and that was it. I remember seeing her knead the dough, roll it out and it was a lot of work but homemade pasta has always been one my favorite things to eat and a cherished childhood memory.
I take advantage of modern appliances and use my food processor to make the dough and have a pasta machine which really makes quick work of it all. One of my favorite ways to enjoy this pasta is simply with fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil and garlic. For this dish I wanted to use some leftover very soft tomatoes and a friend gave me some tiny grape tomatoes and some basil from her garden. I planted 8 tomato plants this year and 2 basil plants, I was so optimistic about the tomatoes and had some beautiful fruit on the plants, unfortunately I only got 1 tomato the squirrels got the rest and my basil died, both plants. I am lucky that the farmers market has beautiful heirloom tomatoes so like every year I will rely on my trips to the market for my tomato fix.
the almost ripe tomato that the squirrels decimated
Homemade Pasta
Serves 4-6 depending on serving size
2 1/2 cups flour
4 eggs
2-4 tbs water (start with 2 add more if needed)
2 tbs olive oil
I used my food processor it’s so easy, put all the ingredients in the bowl of your processor and pulse until it becomes a cohesive dough. Take the dough out and knead until it’s smooth and elastic, cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for at least an hour.
Homemade pasta
After resting, cut the dough into 4 pieces. Keep dough you are not working on covered with a tea towel. Use your pasta machine according to manufacturers directions. I start on 1 and work my way up, folding and re rolling as I go. I decided on fettuccine for this dish. After cutting the pasta place on baking sheet and toss with flour so it doesn’t stick together. Cover with towel while making each portion. Note: Pasta freezes beautifully so you can freeze whatever you don’t want to cook.
The pasta dish is so simple to make. I roasted tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper in a 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Put a large pot of water on to boil, add about 1 tbs of salt, the water should be like sea water. In a skillet or sauté pan add some olive oil add some sliced garlic and sauté until the garlic is lightly browned and soft, add the roasted tomatoes. When water boils add the pasta, fresh pasta only takes a few minutes to cook. Using a strainer or pasta fork add it directly to the pan with tomatoes and garlic. Toss and cook for about 2 minutes. Add some fresh cherry tomatoes and some torn basil, grate some cheese, parmigiana or Romano or both, and enjoy!
apuginthekitchen 
That looks lovely – I never thought to use the food processor. I’m having an ah duy moment now! I did get an attachment for my kitchen aid a couple years ago but haven’t used it as much as I thought I would. Maybe now!
Those bleepity bleepity squirrels. I hate squirrels – they go after my bird feeders. I even tried feeding them for a few years thinking they’d leave the bird feeders alone but more and more squirrels came, lol!! Once two squirrels were “making love” (and if you’ve never seen two squirrels in the act of procreating, believe me, you are missing out on some tender moments) in the tree out front and in their feverish exertions fell to the ground, branches and all. . I was like “Take that squirrels! HA!”
Your pasta looks absolutely perfect. 🍝🍝 How do you cut into the strips. I’d love to see some photos of this step.the recipe is right on the mark. 😋😋💠💠😊
I use a pasta machine. It makes it easy but my mom would fold the pasta dough and cut to desired thickness just using her knife. Thank you so much ❤️
That’s what I thought. Just wondered how you do it as I liked the thickness in yours and couldn’t tell in the recipe. Thank you so much for your time. 😙
I usually roll the dough quite thin but this time I made it thicker my pasta machine goes from 1-4 1 is the widest and 4 will roll really thin. I only went up to 3 giving a slightly thicker piece.
Nice ❤ ❤ ❤
Thank you so much Nilda!!
Oh, it’s gorgeous, Suzanne. I don’t even know where to begin. But those naughty squirrels! I didn’t know they would eat tomatoes…
I’ve never made pasta (or really knew anyone who made their own), but I agree that it is a wonderful thing. I enjoyed all your descriptions and step by step photos. I have some egg-free rice noodles, and lovely Compari tomatoes — so know I know what I’m having for dinner! But mine won’t compare with this fresh pasta. Hugs on the wing!
Hey Teagan, thank you so much! The rice noodles and tomato sounds really awesome to me. Making pasta can be time consuming and muscle tiring with the kneading etc but the results are wonderful and having kitchen appliances to help with the heavy lifting makes it so much easier.
Your description of your mom making pasta was how my grandmother made dumplings (but no eggs and the dough would have been thicker). I was fascinated as a girl, by the well she made for the liquid.
I grew up watching my Mom and Aunts make homemade pasta, every Sunday the whole family ate together. My Grandfather made his own wine I loved to go to the wine cellar with him and help him fill up jugs with wine for dinner, my Aunts would be busy in the kitchen cooking and it was a multi course feast.
Great post
Thank you so much!!
Homemade pasta! That’s one I find intimidating to make for some reason. Yours look really good!!! ❤ what a memory that must be for you to come home with home cooked pasta all the time. So blessed! 😊
It can be intimidating but when you have a pasta machine it makes it so easy. Thanks Ann!!
That makes sense! 🙂
Oh how we loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee our Pasta Suzanne! xx Have a great weekend.
Love me some pasta😘😘thanks Cheryl❤️
xx
So delicious. Nothing beats homemade pasta.
You are so right it’s delicious and worth the effort thank you so much!!
Thanks for this nice recipe and its my favourite too….so I will try it 🙂
It’s wonderful thank you so much!
I’ve never made my own pasta even though I once had a pasta machine (was my husband’s). I’m sure it makes a meal very special!
It’s fun Judi, I don’t make it often because I don’t eat pasta often. I bet my Mom would have loved having a pasta machine! Thank you so much!!
I never thought of using the food processor to make the dough before I roll out. Good idea! All my squash and pumpkin plants were also decimated by all those nasty snugs and snails in my allotment this year. Sadly I can’t have a harvest time this year!
Yes the food processor makes quick work if making the dough and next time I may use my kitchen aid with the dough hook to knead the dough save even more time. I really like making pasta!! Thanks Mochi and like you I don’t have anything to harvest this year either.
I must admit I have never made homemade pasta in my life, although I’m sure it has to do with my bad flour skills. Flour is my bane, lol! And those damn squirrels! Sorry about your ‘maters but glad you have a farmer’s market nearby. Your pasta is mouth-watering.
Pasta is really easy, especially if you have a pasta maker, the hardest part is rolling it out. Ha, yes damn squirrels is right. Looked at my tomato plant today and have 3 new tomatoes. I will hope the squirrels don’t get them before they ripen. One is in a good spot that will be hard to nab, I have a protective screen around the plants. Fingers crossed. Thank you so much!
I love fresh pasta and make it all the time. Like your mom, just flour and eggs for me. But I do use a stand mixer to knead the dough. Do you ever make stuffed pasta like ravioli?
Hi Stefan, yes I love to make stuffed pasta like ravioli and I was thinking today I should use my stand mixer and you just confirmed it. Do you use the dough hook?
Yes, I first use the paddle to mix the dough, and then the hook to knead it. More here: https://stefangourmet.com/2013/02/05/how-to-make-fresh-pasta-dough-using-a-stand-mixer/
Thank you next time I’m going to try this and I will follow how you do it! Thanks Stefan.
I’ve never made homemade pasta but it looks so good and I’m sure it’s so much better than any you could buy!
It really is better than the kind you buy in the store. I don’t make it that often but when I do I wonder why I don’t make it more. Thank you so much.
Wow Suzanne! That plate of pasta is so beautiful and inviting!! I’ve never made pasta– and now I’m wondering why!! This looks way better than the pasta from the market!! thanks for the encouragement to give it a try!! Hope all’s well in Brooklyn!! xox
Hi Rhonda, yep everything is good here, it’s hot but then it’s summer. Hope you are having fun in Wisconsin. Thank you so much, homemade pasta really is good, I love it and will probably make some and freeze it. Have a great week.
Freeze it?? I hadn’t thought of that Suzanne! Making a big batch to use over time. It does look so tender and delicious. Hope all’s well with you and Percy! xoxo
I love your description of your mom making pasta! Yumm this looks so good!
Hi Lynn, thanks so much. I remember so vividly watching and sometimes helping my Mom make pasta. I looked forward to it, she made it look so effortless.
Such wonderful memories!
What a wonderful post, Suzanne. Love the homemade pasta and that last picture is SO beautiful. What do you use to take your photographs?
Hi Lindy, so nice to see you. Thank you so much. Actually I use my iPhone to take the photo’s. I have a digital camera, a Canon but have a really hard time with lighting when I use it. One day I will get a really good camera but for now it’s the iPhone, it’s so easy to use and the results are pretty good.
Lovely pasta. What a good memory to have of your mother!
Thank you so much, it’s one of my favorite memories. I remember it so well and my Mom did it so well.
A treasured time.
Lovely home-made pasta & what a great easy idea to use a food processor! I never did that before! Yum Yum Yum! I learned to make fresh pasta from scratch from a book by Jamie Oliver. I love making it, but it takes a bit of time,….but I always have fun in my kitchen using the pasta machine! Ha!
SUNDAY DINNER
Yes Sunday dinner was almost always homemade Pasta, wonderful memories. Thank you!!
We love homemade pasta too but I am lazy and use my kitchen aid mixer! I love the simplicity of the way you like it too. So much closer to what you actually get in Italy. Those squirrels keep eating my tomatillos or burying them. I’ll have plants shooting up everywhere next summer.
Yes they bury them. Little buggers saw one yesterday eating one that was buried. I want a kitchen aid pasta maker rather than my old hand crank one. The blades that cut the pasta are getting dull. I think it is getting close to time to get a kitchen aid attachment.
I’m in deep with making the majority of my meals from scratch BUT pasta. I’m a bit hesitant. Your post makes it look attainable and delicious. Thanks for sharing! I’m thinking of using my kitchenaid attachment.
what a perfect pasta. I’ve never made homemade pasta! It looks so great.
What a lovely bowl of comfort! Never actually made homemade pasta…but I think it is definitely worth a try! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
my favourite sport… eat pasta!!! Love it!!!
YUM!