Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (2024)

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 10 reviews

When it comes to food, I can’t think of a countrythat does it better than bella Italia.

From the pasta, pizza, and arancini, to all the gelato and tiramisu, limoncello and vino, we always make it our mission to eat and drink everything in sight. And we usually take a few cooking classes, too!

During our latest trip to Florence, we took an incredible cooking classwhere we learned how to make this authentic homemade pasta recipe we’re about to share!

After spending weeks in Italy, spoiling ourselves with countless plates of ridiculously delicious, fresh pasta, it’s hard to go back to the store-bought kind. There’ssimply nothing like homemade pasta.

And now that we know how quick andeasy it is to make our own pasta from scratch, we literally have no excuse not to do so! (And after this post, neither will you.)

So without further ado, here’s the authentic homemade pasta recipe we learned to make in Italy!

How to Make Pasta from Scratch

Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (1)

The ingredients

First things first! The ingredients necessary to make this recipe…

To make this authentic homemade pasta recipe, you need four ingredients:

  • extra virgin olive oil,
  • eggs,
  • salt, and
  • flour.

Note, however, that you can’t use any flour! You need a specific type of verysoft, very fine flour, also known as “00” flour.

It can be difficult to find “00” flour in the grocery store, but you can buy this “00” flour online! Also, keep in mind that this type of flour is ideal for making Neapolitan-style pizza dough.

Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (2)

Making your dough by hand, versus by mixer

In Italy, I learned how to make this authentic homemade pasta recipe by hand. But at home, I prefer to use my Stand Mixer and our Pasta Roller and Cutter Set.

Thesegadgets make pasta-making a breeze, and if you don’t already have a mixer and pasta attachment, I highly recommend it!

The mixer allows you to easily throw together a batch of pasta dough. Meanwhile, the pasta rollerflattens out your dough into very thin sheets and the pasta cutter slices your dough into whatever noodle type you want,such as spaghetti or fettuccine.

Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (3)

Making the dough by hand

Making your pasta dough by hand is a lot more labor-intensive and takes a lot longer. However, there is something to be said for making pasta the traditional way, like we learned to do in Italy!

To make the dough by hand, you’ll simply follow the recipe below to make the dough. Then you’ll roll it out – getting your pasta sheets as thin as you can – and cut noodlesinto your desired width with a pizza cutter or a knife.

(Below, I will explain both how to make the pasta with a mixer and pasta attachment, as well as by hand. I will write instructions for making the pasta by hand in parenthesis and italics.)

How to Make Authentic Homemade Pasta

Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (4)

Are you ready to try outthis authentic homemade pasta recipe? Let’s do it!

First, in your mixer bowl, add inthe “00” flour and create a well in the middle of the pile with your hand. Then, crack your eggs into the well, along with your salt and extra virgin olive oil.

(If you’re not using a mixer, simply do this on a clean surface.)

Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (5)

Next, attach your paddle to your mixer and set it to the lowest speed.

Turn on your mixer and run it until the ingredients incorporate and the dough comes together into small, sticky clumps – such as in the photo above. Depending on the size of your eggs, you may need to use more or less.

(If you’re not using a mixer, use a fork to lightly whisk together the eggs, salt, and olive oil,meanwhilegradually adding flour from the edges of the well. Continue doing so until the dough comes together with a sticky consistency.)

Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (6)

Next, gently knead the dough with your hands for about 10 minutes. Add flour to your work surface as needed, to ensure your dough does not stick.

Once your dough is smooth, form it into a ball and tightly wrap it in plastic wrap. Then place it in the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes.

(If making your pasta without a mixer, simply follow the same instructions as above.)

Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (7)

Next, take your dough out of the refrigerator and cut it into three even pieces.

Insertyour pasta roller onto your mixer and set the mixer to the lowest setting.

Then, turn your mixer on andrun the dough through the pasta roller. Start with setting #1 – the widest setting – and continuethe process through setting #8 – the thinnest setting.

By the end of the process, your pasta sheetswill be thin enough to start cutting!

(If you don’t have a pasta roller, then you should grab your rolling pin and get to work! Cut your dough into three even pieces. Then, roll out your dough as thinly as possible, making sure it’s no thicker than 3 mm throughout your entire pasta sheet. Remember to add flour to your work surface as needed, to prevent your dough from sticking.)

Next,remove the pasta roller from your mixer andinsertthe pasta cutter of your choice.

Then, simply turn your mixer on to the lowest speed, and feed your pasta sheets through the cutter!

It’s as simple as that.

Your pasta sheets will come out the other end as beautiful, fresh noodles, and you’ll hardly be able to contain your excitement.

(To cut your noodles withoutthe pasta cutter, you should fold your sheets over themselves into layers. Then, cut the sheets lengthwise into strips and unravel them. Then, your noodles will be ready to cook!)

Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (9)

How to boil fresh pasta

And now, for the best part.

All that’s left to do is boil your noodles, mix theminto your sauce, and eatit all up!

To cook your pasta, simply bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and then cook your pasta until it rises to the surface and is al dente. This shouldn’t take more than two or three minutes.

Then, let thefeast begin!

  • Use your fresh lasagna sheets to make my Best Vegetarian Lasagna Bolognese (vegetarian) or my (meat-based).
  • Or pair your pasta with my Vegan Bolognese Sauce (made with mushrooms, lentils, and walnuts) or with my Traditional Meat-Based Bolognese!

See that?! Making pasta from scratch, in the comfort of your own kitchen, couldn’t be simpler – especially with aStand Mixerand Pasta Roller and Cutter Set.

Just make sure to pick up (or order) “00” flour first!

Learning to make this pasta in Italy spoiled us forever. Now, nothing but fresh, homemade pasta makes the cut, because it’s so much better than anything you can buy at the grocery store. Andthe good news is that it doesn’t take much time or effort to whip up a fresh batch of your own delicate, delicious pasta.

So what are you waiting for?! Put a huge smile on your face by loadingup on some homemadeItalian-style carbs.Buon appetito!

Print

How to Make Pasta From Scratch: Authentic Homemade Pasta Recipe

Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (10)

Print Recipe

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 10 reviews

If you’re ready to take your pasta dishes to the next level, store-bought pasta just isn’t going to cut it. In this post, we detail exactly how to make pasta from scratch, with or without a stand mixer, pasta roller, and pasta cutter. Here’s our authentic homemade pasta recipe, which we learned during a cooking class in Florence, Italy! Buon appetito!

  • Author: Maddy’s Avenue
  • Prep Time: 55 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 60 minutes
  • Yield: 6 people 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Mixer/Knead
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

  • 3 cups “00” flour
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. In your mixer bowl, add in the “00” flour and create a well in the middle with your hand.
  2. Crack your eggs into the well, along with your salt and extra virgin olive oil.
  3. Attach your paddle to your mixer and set it to the lowest speed.
  4. Mix until the ingredients incorporate and the dough comes together into small, sticky clumps.
  5. Gently knead the dough with your hands for about 10 minutes, until smooth. Add flour to your work surface as needed, to ensure your dough does not stick.
  6. Form the dough into a ball and tightly wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes.
  7. Remove your dough from the refrigerator and cut it into three even pieces.
  8. Replace the mixer paddle with the pasta roller. Set the mixer to the lowest speed and turn it on. Run each piece of dough through the pasta roller. Start with setting #1 — the widest setting — and continue the process through setting #8 — the thinnest setting.
  9. Remove the pasta roller and insert the pasta cutter of your choice.Turn your mixer on to the lowest speed, and feed your pasta sheets through the cutter.
  10. To cook the pasta, boil a pot of salted water, and cook the pasta until it rises to the surface and is al dente— about two or three minutes.
  11. Combine your freshly cooked pasta with a sauce of your choice and enjoy!

Notes

If you’re making pasta without a stand mixer, pasta roller, and pasta cutter, refer to the parenthetical, italicized directions in the blog post above!

*This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through the links on our website, we will receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We never recommend any products/services that we don’t absolutely love. These commissions help keep Maddy’s Avenue up and running, and we thank you for your support!

Did you try out this homemade pasta recipe? Rate it and let us know how it went in the comments below, and tag us @maddysavenue in your foodie photos!

Homemade Pasta Recipe: How to Make Authentic Pasta From Scratch (2024)

FAQs

How is traditional pasta made? ›

Pasta (US: /ˈpɑːstə/, UK: /ˈpæstə/, Italian: [ˈpasta]) is a type of food typically made from an unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or eggs, and formed into sheets or other shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking.

How do you make pasta taste authentic? ›

Here are some simple tips to enhance the taste of dry pasta:
  1. Add salt to the cooking water: While boiling the pasta, add a generous amount of salt to the water. ...
  2. Use a flavorful sauce: A delicious sauce can elevate the taste of the pasta. ...
  3. Reserve pasta water: Bef.
Nov 2, 2023

What is the most important thing in making homemade pasta or fresh pasta? ›

Flour is the single most important ingredient for making fresh pasta, so choosing the right flour can make all the difference. The three most commonly used types of flour for pasta-making are all-purpose flour, “00” flour and semola (sometimes called semolina flour in the UK).

Should you use egg or no egg in pasta? ›

Egg-based noodles are generally stickier and more flexible compared to their egg-free counterparts. According to Sharma, this is because fats and proteins in the egg yolk hinder the over-development of gluten in the flour, binding the dough without letting it get too tough.

Do Italians put egg in their pasta? ›

You're likely already familiar with the classic Italian fresh egg pasta recipe which goes something like this: for every person, mix 100 grams of flour with 1 whole egg. This is, in fact, what most Italians follow. It's a good approximation but I have beef with it for a couple of reasons.

What is authentic pasta made of? ›

Usually, Italian pasta is made from 100 percent durum wheat, which is usually called semolina flour. Therefore, Italian pasta is higher in protein. Semolina flour also stands up to the rigors of the cooking process much better than other types of flour.

Do Italians put sugar in spaghetti? ›

It is widely held that Italian immigrants began adding sugar to their sauce to make up for the overly acidic tomatoes they were forced to work with in their new home. But the history of sugar in pasta sauce actually goes back to Italy itself.

Why does homemade pasta taste different? ›

When making homemade pasta, you are using fresher and healthier ingredients without preservatives. This offers better nourishment, and it reflects in the texture and taste.

What flour do Italians use for pasta? ›

Semola and semolina flour are mainly used for making pasta, couscous, and some rustic cakes. Semolina has a coarse texture similar to polenta, while semola is flour. You might use semolina to make a breakfast porridge or sweet pudding, or under your pizza dough to keep it from sticking.

Do Italians put oil in pasta? ›

Whilst you won't catch any self-respecting Italians adding olive to their pasta water, it's a different story once the pasta is cooked. Italians often use olive oil (specifically extra virgin olive oil) to dress cooked pasta.

What is the secret of making pasta? ›

Shilpa explains that making fresh pasta all comes down to knowing one ratio of flour to water, specifically two parts flour to one part water by weight. For you bread heads out there, yes, that means 50% hydration, or 100 grams of flour to 50 grams of water.

How long do you let pasta dough rest? ›

Rest. Place the dough in a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to overnight in the fridge – this is an extremely important step, so don't skip it!

How many eggs for 1 cup of flour for pasta? ›

One large-size egg weighs about 2 ounces; one cup of flour weighs about 5 ounces. Use one large-size egg for each full serving you want to make, to that add 1 ½ the egg's weight in flour. (You can do this with a simple kitchen scale.) If you don't have a scale, use 2 eggs per 1 cup of flour to make 1 serving.

What is traditional spaghetti made of? ›

Spaghetti (Italian: [spaˈɡetti]) is a long, thin, solid, cylindrical pasta. It is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine. Like other pasta, spaghetti is made of milled wheat, water, and sometimes enriched with vitamins and minerals. Italian spaghetti is typically made from durum-wheat semolina.

How is spaghetti originally made? ›

Spaghetti made from the flour of hard durum wheat semolina, with water and salt added and cooked by boiling, has existed since the Roman Empire, but the history of its invention is not entirely clear.

Where is pasta traditionally from? ›

Pasta certainly existed in Italy long before Marco Polo headed off to explore new lands, but its exact origins have unfortunately been lost in the depths of time. Some attribute its beginnings to the Etruscans, a pre-Roman civilisation found in central Italy.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Virgilio Hermann JD

Last Updated:

Views: 6757

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Virgilio Hermann JD

Birthday: 1997-12-21

Address: 6946 Schoen Cove, Sipesshire, MO 55944

Phone: +3763365785260

Job: Accounting Engineer

Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.