Basic Pasta Dough

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Egg pasta is more rich and flavorful than the mass produced stuff you buy in a cardboard box. Even though the dough in this recipe is not traditional, it packs far more flavor per inch and is easier to work with because of the moisture from the eggs. Generally speaking, pasta is easy to make at home; the only time consuming element is rolling out the dough.

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  • 4

Ingredients

  • 3 to 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough
  • 1 teas kosher salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tblsp olive oil

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, mix 3 cups of the flour and the salt. Shape a deep well in the middle of the flour; it should look like a white volcano. In another bowl, beat the eggs, then beat in the oil. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the center of the flour, stirring it into the flour. Keep incorporating the eggs into the flour until the mixture gets too stiff to mix with a fork. Switch to your hands and add enough flour, 1 tblsp at a time, to mix it together into a sticky dough.

Once your dough has come together, turn it out onto a well floured work surface. Work the dough by pushing the sides into the middle, then bringing the bottome over the top and down, in a repetitive motion. With a steady flow of motion, this should take 8 to 10 minutes of kneading. You'll know it's ready when the dough feels somewhat elastic and it not longer cracks and crumbles while being handled. It will also take on a bit of a subtle shine.

Dampen a clean kitchen towell and wrap the dough in the towel. Let it sit at room temp for 30 minutes.

Unwrap the dough and, with a scraper or a knife, cut it into equal quarters. Roll the first piece into a ball, flatten it with your hands, then roll it out into a 12 inch square about 1/8 inch thick, keeping the work surface and rolling pin well floured. Repeat with the other pieces of dough. At this point, you're ready to shape your pasta.

HOW TO STORE IT: Pasta dough can be stored, wrapped in a damp kitchen towel at room temp, up to a day. Make sure the towel doesn't dry out.

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