Easy Homemade Pasta By Hand

2 cups all purpose flour (plus extra)

2 eggs

3 Tbsp. water

1 Tbsp. Olive oil

1 tsp. salt

On a large, clean, flat surface: combine the flour and salt to make a pile. Create a well in the center.

In a bowl: add eggs, olive oil, and 1 Tbsp. water. Whisk together until well blended. Keep the remaining 2 Tbsp. waiting on the side.

Slowly pour the mixture into the well, using a fork or your fingers to blend the liquid and dry ingredients together. Add additional water if needed 1 Tbsp. at a time.

Once your dough has been combined, place it on a lightly floured surface and begin kneading it for 3-5 minutes. Your dough should be firm and not sticky.

Cover your dough ball with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 15-30 minutes.

Unwrap and return to a lightly floured surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to an even thickness of approx. 1/8 inch.

Once you have gotten your dough evenly thinned out, allow it to rest flat for an additional 5 to 10 minutes before cutting.

Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the dough into strips of the desired width.

At this point your pasta is ready to be used. If you are preparing it immediately, place it into a pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Drain in a colander and serve.

If you are planning to save your finished pasta for a later time, now you have reached the drying phase of your preparations.

There are a few options you can choose to do when drying your pasta. One of the most widely used being: cover the handle of a broom with plastic wrap and balance it between 2 chairs. Hang your pasta over the handle for 3 or 4 hours. Place in an airtight container. Your pasta will remain fresh for up to 4 days.

Another form of hanging you could try, if you don't own a pasta drying wrack, is to cover hangers with plastic wrap (or buy a new set just for this purpose). This will allow you to transport your drying pasta out of the way. It also allows more room or bigger batches if you hang the hangers on the broom handle instead of directly placing the pasta on the handle its self.

There are so many great reasons to make your own pasta!

• The pride of knowing you did it yourself & impressing others with your mad cooking skills.
• Knowing that it is healthier than buying it from the store (and fresher!)
• Having total control over what goes in (or stays out)

Once you get comfortable with the basics, try adding your own special flare to it! Experiment with different herbs, seasonings, or flours. Work with different noodle widths. The pasta possibilities are endless!

* Every source link for the pictures in this article will take you to another site where you can learn even more about making homemade pasta with additional recipes!

Now get cooking & have a delicious day!