Homemade Pasta with Kitchenaid

My homemade pasta has definitely been one of my most requested recipes. It also just so happens to be my favorite thing to make. I love how many different options there are, and to create new and different sauces to accompany each one! While I may not be of Italian ancestry (I'm French and German), my taste buds and cravings definitely aren't aware of this. My grandma also passed on to me some very old Italian cook books along with her love of Italian food. She learned many of her recipes from an Italian immigrant woman who my dad's family lived next door to in Chicago. This recipe is one I've actually developed myself though! Through much trail and even more error. I use my Kitchenaid stand mixer which was a wedding gift from said grandma, although you can also use this recipe to make your pasta by hand or with a hand crank. I use my Kitchenaid for making pasta about 100x more than for baking desserts which is probably how most people use it, but what can I say. I always imagine her smiling down on me when I fire it up.

For this recipe, all you need is FOUR ingredients. And one of them is water. Easy right?!

You'll start by combining your eggs, water, salt and flour in your Kitchenaid mixing bowl. Attach your flat beater and cover so flour doesn't fly out. On speed 2, mix dough for about 2 minutes. You'll most likely need to add more water if the dough seems too dry. Do so in ½ tablespoon increments at a time. Next, attach your dough hook and continue to knead on speed 2 for another two minutes. The dough should begin sticking to the hook if it's the right consistency. It will look like this once finished.

**If not using a Kitchenaid, simply add ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Combine using a hand mixer or whisk by hand. This works just as well, it just takes longer and involves a little more elbow grease!**

Remove dough from mixing bowl and place on a floured surface. Knead by hand for a couple more minutes. Let sit for 30 minutes. This is usually a good time to pour a glass of wine while you wait. You've earned it! 😉

Your next step is to separate dough into four separate sections. Press slightly into a rectangular shape (just slightly) and dust each side with flour. Now you'll attach your pasta sheet roller. Place the setting at #1 and turn the mixer speed to 2. Run one of your pieces of dough through the attachment. It'll flatten it somewhat. Fold in half and feed it through again. Repeat several times. You'll goal is to have the sheet stretch the length of the attachment and have fairly even ends. Turn the setting to #2 and run the sheet through (don't fold in half after). Repeat another 1-2 times. Turn setting to #3 and repeat and then to #4 and repeat again (about 2 times on each setting). You should end up with long thin rectangular sheets. Place them on a floured surface and dust the tops with flour too to keep from sticking.

Next you'll attach your spaghetti or fettuccine pasta attachments. On speed 2 run a sheet through, and it will instantly (and magically) be cut into the noodle of your choice! Repeat with the remaining sheets.

**If doing this by hand, roll out sheets with a rolling pin (dusted with flour). Use scissors to cut pasta into desired shape.**

**If using a pasta hand/table crank, follow directions provided with your product.**

If you plan to use your homemade pasta right away, then twirl the noodles around your hand as soon as you cut them/they come out of the pasta attachment, and place them on a floured surface in the form of little nests as shown above. If you plan to use your homemade pasta at a later time, use a drying rack (or even a clothes hanger) to lay them out in a straight line to dry. This takes about an hour.

One of the most important keys here is to flour your dough/noodles throughout the process so they don't stick together. Otherwise you'll just end up with a blob of dough and have to re-do. 🙂

To cook: bring a large pot of salted water to boil and carefully add each "nest". They only need about 3-5 minutes to cook which is another benefit to homemade!

Links to products:

My Kitchenaid Mixer:

https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/color-of-the-year/stand-mixers/p.artisan-series-5-quart-tilt-head-stand-mixer.ksm150psce.html?

Pasta attachment:

https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/attachments/p.3-piece-pasta-roller-and-cutter-set.ksmpra.html

Try this homemade pasta with these recipes:

Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Shrimp Scampi

Chicken Marsala