Egg Pasta
- 4 large eggs, lightly beaten at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons warm water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups unbleached all-purpose or bread flour
- 1 cup semolina pasta flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2- or 2-pound-loaf machines
- Place all the ingredients in the bread pan according to the order in the manufacturers instructions.
- Program for the Dough or the Pasta Dough cycle; press Start.
- Set a kitchen timer for 7 minutes.
- When the timer rings, check the dough ball that has collected on the blade.
- It should be firm but pliable.
- If it is too dry, add a couple drops of water while the machine is kneading.
- If it is too moist, sprinkle in some all-purpose flour, a teaspoon at a time, Reset the timer for 3 more minutes.
- When the timer rings, press Stop to cancel the cycle.
- (These recipes are not suitable for use with the Delay Timer.)
- Remove the dough from the pan.
- Form into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- (The dough can be refrigerated at this point for up to 3 days, but bring to room temperature before rolling out.)
- The dough is now ready to roll out and cut as desired.
- To roll the dough by hand: Dust your work surface with all-purpose flour.
- Divide the dough into 3 equal portions, keeping the reserved dough balls covered to prevent drying out.
- Place the ball of dough on the work surface and with the rolling pin, roll back and forth.
- Then begin to roll in one direction, away from you.
- Make a quarter turn and roll in the other direction until the, dough stretches into a rounded rectangle about 1/8 inch thick.
- Roll the dough around the rolling pin and unroll to stretch the dough further (this is how the old Italian grandmothers do it).
- Keep the dough as thin and as light as possible.
- Work quickly, as the dough dries out.
- To cut the dough by hand: Sprinkle the dough with flour and bring the 2 opposite ends of the dough together in the center.
- Repeat 2 more times, until you have a tight double jelly roll of pasta.
- Hold the roll with one hand and, with a sharp chefs knife in the other, slice into 1/8-, 1/4-, or 1/2-inch-wide thin, medium, or wide noodles.
- You can slip the dull edge of the knife under the center of the dough and lift the: noodles, they will unravel over the knife.
- Or lift the noodles with your fingers.
- To roll the dough with a pasta machine: Attach the pasta machine onto your counter and set the smooth rollers to the widest opening; Dust your work surface with all-purpose flour.
- Divide the dough into 4 to 6 equal portions, keeping the reserved dough balls covered to prevent drying out.
- Place the ball of dough on the work surface and press to flatten, to a width no wider than the opening of the machine.
- Run the dough through the machine.
- Dust with flour as necessary.
- Fold in thirds and run through the machine again.
- Run the dough through the machine 2 more times; but dont fold the dough again.
- Set the notch on the machine to the next smallest setting and run the dough through the rollers.
- Continue rolling and stretching the dough, using a smaller setting each time, until the smallest setting is reached.
- Most machines have 6 graduated settings.
- You can skip some settings.
- The dough strip/will be long and delicate.
- To cut the dough with a pasta machine: Adjust the cutting mechanism of the machine to the desired, width and run the dough through to cut.
- You can run the cut pasta directly out onto a baking sheet dusted with some semolina.
- To dry the pasta: Transfer the cut pasta to a drying rack, a floured towel, or, a floured baking sheet.
- As one layer is filled place a sheet of parchment over the pasta on the baking sheet, and continue to layer the pasta and sprinkle lightly with flour to keep from sticking.
- Cut into desired lengths with a sharp chefs knife.
- Let the pasta air dry at least 20 minutes before cooking or freezing.
- To cook the pasta right away: Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil over high heat for each pound of pasta.
- Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and l 1/2 tablespoons salt.
- Then immerse the pasta.
- Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring a few times to separate the strands, then as the water comes to a low boil again, begin to taste test.
- Remove a strand from the pot; it should be slightly firm to the bite, not mushy.
- This happens fast!
- Pour the cooked pasta into a colander in the sink to drain.
- Dont rinse with cold water.
- Return it to the pan in which it was cooked and toss with some butter or oil, then serve as soon as possible with your sauce.
- Variations:
- Herb Egg Pasta
- Add 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley, 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil, and 2 tablespoons minced fresh marjoram to the flour in the bread pan.
- Use milk in place of the warm water.
- This pasta is excellent with cheese sauces such as fonduta, with ricotta and parsley; and with olive oil sauces.
- Black Pepper Egg Pasta
- Add 1 heaping tablespoon of finely ground black pepper to the flour in the bread pan.
- This pasta, is very good with vegetable tomato, and butter sauces.
eggs, water, olive oil, bread flour, semolina pasta flour, salt, machines
Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/egg-pasta (may not work)