Pasta Day Perfection!

Carb lovers rejoice, October 17th is National Pasta Day, and just when you think it can’t get any better, World Pasta Day is right around the corner on October 25th! Who knows, maybe you can make it a whole eight-day celebration of carbs? I can’t say I would object to that so long as I have lots of salad and garlic bread too!

[Image consists of a close up of some fettuccine pasta]

Pasta is an extremely varied and versatile food. It can be found in a wide array of shapes, and sizes, but also used in so many dishes. From savory to dessert, served hot or cold, fresh or dried, pasta can certainly deliver. The history of pasta is almost as varied as its forms, while widespread consumption can be dated back to the 14th century, pasta is believed to have existed in some form in ancient China and Greece, and evidence of pasta recipes has been found in Italian recipe books from the early 1200’s!

So in honour of World Pasta Day, I wanted to share a basic homemade pasta recipe. First, no, you don’t need a special pasta roller, while it can help make your pasta thinner and more consistent, hand rolling works too! Second, some recipes will call for 00 flour or semolina, but it’s not essential all-purpose flour can also work well.

[Image consists of a flour well/nest with an egg inside]

So to start you only need 4 main ingredients for this pasta recipe, all-purpose flour, eggs, olive oil and salt. For approximately 3-4 servings of pasta, you will need 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 3 large eggs, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ tablespoon of olive oil.

On a clean work surface make a well or nest of flour, then carefully add the eggs, oil and salt to the center of your well/nest. Use a fork to gently break up the eggs keeping the walls of flour intact as best as possible, slowly start to incorporate the flour into the egg mixture. At this point it may be time to switch to using your hands to develop a very shaggy ball.

Next you’ll need to knead! Knead the dough for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, it will likely start off feeling very dry and unlikely to come together, but don’t give up, it just takes time! If after 8 to 10 min the dough is still too dry you can dampen your hands and continue kneading, adding that small amount of water from your damp hands. Similarly if you are finding the dough too sticky you can dust your work surface with a bit more flour. Once the dough has been kneaded and formed a smooth ball, wrap it in plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for half an hour. (if you avoid plastic due to environmental concerns then a slightly damp lint-free towel will also work)

[Image consists of a pasta that has been rolled and cut by hand]

Once the dough has rested, it’s time to roll and cut the dough. If you have a specialized pasta roller, you can of course use that. (Follow the instructions for your pasta machine.) If instead you are like me and you don’t have a pasta roller, you can roll it out by hand. First, divide the dough into 2-4 equal portions. Smaller portions may be easier to manage. Roll out one portion on a floured work surface. Typically rolling it thinner is best. Then dust your dough with more flour to prevent it sticking, loosely roll it, and using a very sharp knife, cut the roll into strips based on your prefered width. Unfurl your noodles and lay them loosely in bundles. Repeat with the remaining dough.

All that’s left is to cook your fresh pasta in a pot of boiling salted water for about 1 to 2 minutes, and enjoy.

Pass the pasta please!

• So what is your favourite kind of pasta?

• Have you ever made your own pasta from scratch? If you have, how was it? If not, is there anything that stops you from trying?

• What’s the funniest story you have involving pasta?

• Alright, I shared a recipe for pasta, perhaps you could share your favourite recipes for pasta sauce?

[Image consists of an empty dinner plate with a crossed knife and fork signalling ready for seconds.]

Sources:

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-pasta-day-october-17/

https://ilovepasta.org/history/

https://www.loveandlemons.com/wprm_print/47208 (Basic pasta recipe as above.)

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/homemade-ravioli/print/ (Yum! Filled pasta, for even more fun!)

https://biancazapatka.com/en/wprm_print/15377 (If you’d like to try a vegan/eggless pasta recipe.)

https://forms.gle/tSRzfxpQJvvYpZXh6 Feedback & Ideas Form, Share your ideas!

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