Fresh Pasta
January 9th, 2010 | Categories: Food | 22 Comments
When I found out that pesto pasta was on the menu for dinner last night, I randomly had this hankering to make some fresh pasta to accompany the pesto sauce instead of the usual boxed pasta. I bought a pasta machine when I first moved to Chicago, used it once, and then promptly forgot about it. However, while watching Iron Chef America last Sunday (yes, I am still addicted to the Food Network) I saw one of the sous chefs crank out a pasta machine to use for her ravioli dough. Maybe it’s all of the Food Network shows I watch getting to me, or maybe I just wanted to spend more quality time in the kitchen before returning to school. Whatever it was, the next thing I knew I was in my kitchen, kneading the pasta dough and swiftly churning out fresh egg pasta for dinner.
I used a recipe from Mario Batali, one of the Iron Chefs on Iron Chef America. It’s incredibly simple, but very delicious. Fresh pasta really makes such a difference in a dish!
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Hi, I'm Manda. I'm a college student studying communications and languages. I like to read, shop, bake, and travel. I have a tendency to listen to my favorite songs on repeat for hours on end. Sometimes I catch myself thinking in a language other than English. 
I love fresh pasta, the closest I get is buying it in the fresh section at the supermarket.
Well done! I’ve never been ambitious enough to make my own pasta, even though I know it’s so much better than boxed. :)
Side Note: Love the colors in your counter tops!
*is also addicted to Food Network* (although HGTV could be considered my actual true love) :D
Mhm, delicious! I’ve never made fresh pasta at home but it’s indeed a difference to boxed pasta. At the Vapiano restaurants the pasta gets freshly made every day and it’s the most delicious and fresh pasta I’ve ate so far! :D
Ooh, I’ve never had it that fresh before, I bet that’s absolutely delicious. I could live off of pasta.
Oh gosh, that must taste amazing. I love pretty much every kind of pasta. *wants*
I don’t think I’ve ever even had fresh pasta. But most home-made food is much better than their boxed versions, so I can imagine it was good :)
I read the recipe and I can’t believe it’s only flour and eggs, that’s all you need to make pasta? Ok, and a pasta machine.
Yep, it’s only flour and eggs. I found a different fresh pasta recipe by Alton Brown (it’s underneath the tortellini recipe) that uses water, salt, and olive oil in addition to flour and eggs. I think I’m going to try that one out next time.
As far as I know, I’ve never had fresh pasta… but now I really want to try it!
That seems awesome! I would love to make my own pasta one day.
I would have made fresh pasta way long ago, but alas, my pasta machine has bits of playdough in it from when I was little and would roll it out. :)
Though I don’t like pesto (I don’t like basil that much), that pasta would happily be eaten if put in front of me. ;)
You should be a chef, Manda, what with all yuor cooking adventures! I wish I knew how to cook. Or even really wanted to know how. XD Because it looks like it would be kind of fun, but the kitchen is no place for a Krissy. lol
If you come visit me, in addition to a home-cooked Chinese meal, I will add cooking lessons to the list of things we will have to do. We will make yummy and delicious things that will change your attitude about kitchens/cooking forever! ;D
I LOVE home-made pasta. It makes a HUGE difference. I am also a Food Network addict, and cannot wait to buy my own pasta machine (if only I had a bigger kitchen…).
I’ve never had fresh pasta, but I do love the idea of making my own pasta and a pasta machine. Of course, the last time I thought about buying a pasta machine, I was thinking of using it to make miniature clay food instead! :P
How is the taste of fresh pasta different to boxed stuff?
Dried pastas don’t usually involve egg or oil, unlike fresh pastas. This article sums up the differences pretty well.
Oh wow, it looks fun making pasta! I bet I’d make a right mess of it, though, haha.
It’s fun experimenting and making new things though. It always makes me feel good about myself.
Fresh pasta always tastes heaps nicer than packet stuff! I wish I had more time to do things like this!
I love pasta and fresh pasta even more, we got a pasta machine as Christmas present but haven’t got it out of the box yet. Maybe I should just pop it out and give it a try :)
You are the only student I’ve ever known to own a pasta machine Manda, ILU.
I’ve love to make my own some day. That, and ice cream and my cooking ambitions. I’d really like to make my own ravioli
Wow always wanted one of them, would love to give fresh pasta ago :)
Yay for the Food Network! Yay for Mario Batali! And WAHOO for homemade pasta. mmmm. I am so jealous that you have a pasta maker and you can make it at home!
And I’m glad you linked to the recipe, too. I’m a Food Network junkie…but I don’t cook. My boyfriend actually does all of the cooking. I compile the recipes and he makes them delicious. In fact, you know that show “Worst cooks in America”? I should be on that. I am….definitely…worthy of it. Haha, seriously!! Ahh!
-M.
[...] by my success with making fresh pasta, I decided to try making homemade ravioli. The pasta making process is the same with both fettucini [...]