How to Make Pasta with a Pasta Machine

I recently bought a pasta machine with the intention of making my own home made fresh pasta. I prefer fresh pasta to dried and I wanted to try my very own.

I went out and purchased my pasta machine and set it up straight away. It has to be clamped to the side board so that it doesn't slide all over the place, and it comes with separate attachments. One makes tagliatelle and the other makes fettucine. The main part of the pasta machine smooths out the dough so that you can make lasagne or use a cutter for ravioli.

To make enough pasta for 6 people, the ingredients are:

• 4 eggs
• 500g plain flour (use '00' graded flour for pasta)
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Method

Place the flour in a bowl and make a well in the centre. Crack the eggs into the well one by one, then begin to whisk. Add the olive oil and combine all of the ingredients.

This will form a dough which should not be sticky. If it is too dry then add a little lukewarm water. If it is too sticky then add a sprinkling of flour.

Place the dough on a floured worktop and knead the dough to an even consistency.

Next place the dough on a cloth. If you cut it into about 3 pieces it will be easier to work with.

Preparing the Machine

Use the instructions which come with the machine. For a basic pasta machine, start on the lowest setting which is when it is at its widest.

If you are doing it for the first time, get some assistance in either holding the pasta dough or turning the handle!

Place one of your pieces of dough (flatten it slightly) at the top and pass it through the rollers by turning the handle. Fold your dough and pass it again another 3 or 4 times.

Move the setting up by one notch and pass it through again. Then change the setting and pass it through. Do this until your pasta is at the desired thickness.

Practice does make perfect, but before you know it, you'll be doing it really quickly.

Once you have got your pasta you can use an attachment if you want to cut it. Let it rest for 10 minutes before cutting.

Pass it through and turn the handle (you may have to move your handle). Once the pasta is cooked, hang it over a pasta stand or improvise with something!

Repeat the process again with the other batches of dough.

If your pasta becomes sticky when passing it through the rollers, just add some more flour.

Then you have your finished pasta! All you need to do next is to drop it into boiling water for 1 or 2 minutes and serve.

Make yourself a cheese sauce by mixing a small amount of butter in a pan on the heat with some cornflour, then whisking in milk and adding grated cheese. Or simply serve with red pepper pesto and parma ham.

You can also make green or red pasta. The green pasta is made with spinach, which is boiled and blended down. Add 250g of spinach to the dough mix.

Red pasta is made with tomato puree. Heat a tablespoon of puree and add this to your dough.