Tuscan Pasta Dough Recipes

Steps:

• In a food processor combine the flour, salt, eggs, oil and 4 tablespoons water and process until the mixture begins to form a ball, adding more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, if the dough is too dry. Process 30 seconds more to knead it. Remove the dough from the processor and let it rest, covered with an inverted bowl, at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Set the smooth rollers of a pasta machine at the highest number. (The rollers will be wide apart.) Divide the dough into 4 pieces, flatten 1 piece into a rectangle, and cover the remaining pieces with an inverted bowl. Dust the rectangle with flour and feed it through the rollers. Fold the rectangle in half and feed it through the rollers 6-8 more times, folding in half each time and dusting with flour if necessary to keep it from sticking. Turn the dial down one notch and feed the dough through the rollers without folding. Continue to feed the dough through the rollers without folding, turning the dial lower one notch each time, until the lowest notch is reached. Roll the remaining pieces of pasta dough in the same manner.
• Use the blades of a pasta machine that will cut 1/4-inch wide strips. Feed one end of a sheet of pasta dough through the blades, holding the other end straight up from the machine. Catch the strips from underneath the machine before the sheet goes completely through the rollers and put the cut strips lightly across floured jelly-roll pans or let them hang over the top of straight-backed chairs or on hangars. Let the pasta dry for 5 minutes, before cooking.

Steps:

• On a clean dry work surface, make a mound of the flour and, using your fingers, make a well in the center of the mound. Using a fork, break the shell of the eggs one by one and drop the eggs into the center of the well you made of the flour. With the fork, beat the eggs together. Again using the fork, slowly begin to fold the flour in towards the center of the well to incorporate the flour into the beaten eggs. As you mix the flour with the beaten eggs, it will begin to form a doughy mass. Work this mass using your fingers until it begins to lose its moist and sticky character.
• When the mass begins to feel uniformly dry, begin to work the dough using both hands: kneading with the palms of both hands, pushing from the center of the ball of dough outwards and folding the near edge inwards to begin the kneading cycle again. The kneading stage should take about 10 minutes by hand.
• After the dough has been fully kneaded, it is time to thin the dough into sheets suitable for cutting. A manual pasta machine works wonders at this stage. Cut the ball of dough into three equal pieces. Form these pieces, by hand, into equal rectangular shape to be passed through the rollers of the pasta machine. Set the cylindrical rollers at their widest opening, put a piece of dough in the space between rollers and crank the handle to pass the dough through. As the sheet of pasta comes out the bottom of the rollers it should be set on a dry cotton towel to rest while you begin on the next piece. Repeat the thinning process with the remaining pieces of pasta, thinning and then setting aside, consecutively so that each piece of pasta is equally rolled out. When all the pasta has passed through the first rolling stage, set the machine to the next setting to begin rolling the pasta thinner. Start the rolling process again, beginning with the first piece of dough and continue with the remaining pieces. As each is rolled thinner set it aside and continue onto the next.
• As you return to the first piece of dough, set the cylinders one setting closer. Continue in this fashion until the pasta dough has been rolled out as thinly as possible.
• As the sheets of dough rest, keep them on a cotton towel, to prevent sticking to the work surface. When they are all rolled out you are ready to cut the pasta into the desired shape. They can be cut using the cutting wheels of the rolling machine or by hand using a knife.

Steps:

• Place flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade and pulse to combine.
• With the machine running, add eggs one at a time and blend after each addition. Add olive oil and process until dough looks like a coarse meal that comes together when pressed into a ball, about 10 seconds. Do not over-process. If the dough seems excessively sticky, add a little more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, processing just until incorporated.
• Lightly dust work surface and hands with flour. Turn dough out of food processor and knead until elastic and smooth, and no longer sticky, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Shape dough into a disk and cover with plastic wrap or an overturned bowl. Let rest for at least 1 hour at room temperature (or up to 1 day in refrigerator) before rolling. If the dough has been refrigerated, let stand at room temperature for about an hour before rolling and shaping.
• Cut the dough into 6 to 8 pieces. Flatten it into small rectangles to fit through a pasta machine.
• Keeping the dough lightly floured, roll the pieces through a pasta machine set at its widest opening. Keep rolling pasta through machine as progressively narrower settings, forming strips.
• Lay pasta strips on a lightly floured surface and keep covered with towels. One at a time, fold strips into a flat roll and slice crosswise into ribbons. Unfurl ribbons and transfer to a floured baking sheet. Slice lengthwise into long ribbons, about 1 1/2 inches wide, using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
• Cook pasta in boiling salted water for 2 to 4 minutes, until al dente. Drain and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Sift the all purpose flour and semolina flour together. *This is very important*.
• Using a Stand Mixer with the Dough Hook: Put all ingredients into the mixing bowl and turn the mixer on medium speed.
• Allow the dough to mix until it forms a ball.
• Take the dough out and lay on a lightly floured surface. The dough should be pliable, but not too sticky. If it sticks to your hands, mix in a little bit more semolina flour.
• Push the pasta dough through the pasta attachment on your stand mixer.
• Dust pasta with semolina flour as it comes out of the attachement.
• Toss fresh pasta in semolina flour and place on a tray. *Be liberal when dusting and tossing the fresh pasta in semolina flour so that it does not stick together.*.
• By Hand: On a clean work surface, make a mound of the flours and salt with a well in the middle.
• Add the eggs to the well, and start stirring with a fork, slowly incorporating all the flour until the dough comes together.
• Knead the dough until it is soft and pliable. This will take several minutes.
• Run the pasta dough through the widest setting on your pasta machine, fold into thirds, and roll again. Continue this process until the dough is shiny and elastic.
• Work the dough through the settings of the machine until the desired thickness is reached.
• Use the attachments to cut the dough into whatever shape you like.
• Toss fresh pasta in semolina flour and place on a tray. *Be liberal when dusting and tossing the fresh pasta in semolina flour so that it does not stick together.*.
• Cook fresh pasta in salted boiling water. Length of time depends on the shape you make. Fresh pasta will cook much faster than store bought pasta.

Steps:

• Place flour on a marble or wooden work surface. Make a well in the center and crack in eggs; add salt. Gently beat eggs using a fork, incorporating the surrounding flour, until mixture is runny. Pull remaining flour into the center using a bench scraper, incorporating it until dough forms a ball.
• Knead dough with your hands by flattening the ball, stretching it, and folding the top towards the center. Turn 45 degrees and repeat until dough is soft and smooth, about 10 minutes.
• Shape dough into a ball. Place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Roll out the dough with a pasta machine or with a rolling pin and cut into your favorite pasta.

Steps:

• In a large glass or plastic bowl combine 1 cup flour and remaining ingredients.
• With a mixer on low speed beat 2 minutes, scraping the bowl.
• You can do this part by hand.
• With a wooden spoon stir in enough additional flour to make a soft dough.
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• cover dough and let rest 30 minutes.
• Follow pasta machine instructions at this point, or lightly flour your counter and rolling pin, cut dough down to manageable size and roll, turn, roll, turn until desired thickness.
• Cut to desired shape.

Steps:

• All you need do is to mix flour with eggs, olive oil and salt. If too dry, sprinkle with water and add flour if too sticky.
• It is now important to wrap dough in plastic and leave it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until you want to use it. Humidity will bind the dough.
• For the dough using a pasta machine. We get a smooth dough and flavored. Add flour if necessary, it does not stick and we'll cut to desired shape.
• We leave them to dry for another day or we boil water with salt for 1-2 minutes.