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AdviceTravel

How to Make Italian Pasta From Scratch

written by Brenna Holeman August 2, 2014

How to make Italian pasta 1

With Beverley and Neil before our cooking lesson

I am an okay cook. Not the best, but not the worst either. I’ve always felt that I could become pretty good – the meals I know how to make have been perfected and I can easily follow a recipe – but as I live alone and travel a lot, I often resort back to the same, easy meals when I’m cooking at home.

When I was in Basilicata in early June, I had the opportunity to visit Palazzo Margherita in Bernalda. There is no way to describe this hotel other than to say it is absolutely exquisite. Owned by Francis Ford Coppola, it feels much more like a beautiful Italian home than a hotel, which is because it is exactly that; the Coppola family stays there when they are in Italy, and Sofia was married there recently.

The kitchen, then, is exactly what you would imagine of such a gorgeous estate: large and welcoming, with lots of fresh ingredients. I was a bit nervous knowing that I would learn how to make pasta here – did I really deserve to be in this kitchen, run by some of the best chefs in the country?

It turns out, making Italian pasta from scratch is much easier than I thought it would be, at least this recipe. I swear to you that you can do it. I mean, if I can, you can. I don’t have exact measurements of anything, but it all seemed very instinctive.

You will need:

-boiling water

-Italian flour (specifically semola di grano duro, which is a durum wheat flour)

-olive oil (the best quality you can find, this always makes a difference)

-fresh tomatoes

-fresh basil

-cheese (ricotta is fine)

How to make Italian pasta 10

The durum wheat flour we used

1. Start by placing your flour (a half kilo or one pound should be sufficient for a lot of pasta) in a mound on a floured board. Make a well in the middle and slowly start to pour in your boiling water (do not use cold water). With a spatula, start to draw in the flour and mix in the water, adding more water as you need. Add water until the texture is springy but not sticky. Knead it until it is smooth.

How to make Italian pasta 2

How to make Italian pasta 3

2. Now break off chunks and roll them into tubes about the diameter of a finger. You can make them as long as you like but 30cm/one foot is more than enough. When all of your dough is rolled in this way, cut them into 3cm/one inch pieces.

How to make Italian pasta 4

How to make Italian pasta 5

How to make Italian pasta 7

3. Next, and this is the fun part, take two fingers (your index and middle fingers) and push down on each piece, rolling your fingers toward you. This is difficult to explain, but take a look at what Neil is doing here:

How to make Italian pasta 9

And in the end, you should end up with pieces that look like this:

How to make Italian pasta 8

We learned a few other techniques for different pasta shapes, but this is the easiest (and the most fun).

4. Now that you have your pasta made, drop it into a pot of boiling salted water. While that is boiling, heat up your olive oil in a big pan. Use lots of it, there is no other sauce for this pasta!

How to make italian pasta 18

5. When the oil has been heated, add your fresh, diced tomatoes. Stir those for a bit, then add ripped pieces of basil as well.

How to make Italian pasta 12

6. When your pasta is finished cooking (this is to taste, but it shouldn’t take long for al dente), strain it and add it to the pan as well. Mix it in with the oil, tomatoes, and basil.

How to make Italian pasta 13

Skill level required: medium to expert

7. Now add your grated cheese, give it a quick stir, and you’re ready to serve it!

How to make Italian pasta 14

How to make Italian pasta 15

The key with this dish is to use the freshest and best ingredients you can find. It was really simple, but really delicious. I honestly didn’t think making Italian pasta from scratch could be this easy.

How to make Italian pasta 16

With my fellow cook, Ed

How to make Italian pasta 17

Alternatively, you can just have enough money to own a beautiful kitchen and have incredibly attractive chefs prepare your food for you

After a quick snack of the pasta we had made ourselves, we were taken outside for lunch, where we sat under the vines and had one of the best meals I’ve had in ages. No, we did not help with the preparation of this food, sadly (actually, I’m sure it was a very good thing that we didn’t attempt to help).

Italian Meal

Italian Meal 2

Italian Meal 3

Followed by the perfect espresso in their café, which you can visit no matter if you are a guest of the palazzo or not.

Italian coffee

Italian coffee 2

Many thanks to Palazzo Margherita for hosting us, and to Discover Basilicata for inviting me to Italy. I am already plotting my return to Basilicata, it was just that amazing!

Have you ever made pasta from scratch? Do you think you could handle this recipe?

EuropeFoodItaly
19 comments
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Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 15 years, many of them solo. She's a big fan of whisky and window seats.

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19 comments

Katie @ Domestiphobia August 2, 2014 - 2:40 pm

Yes! Not in Italy, though — it was a local class. The pasta was made with eggs (instead of water) and it was AMAZING: http://www.domestiphobia.net/2013/06/17/flour-eggs-olive-oil-the-perfect-companions-for-a-rockin-saturday-night/

I am taking some cooking classes in Campania in October, though — I cannot wait! And if you care to go to Tuscany, I’ll be traveling solo to Florence after Campania. 🙂 Italy, here I come!!

Reply
Brenna Holeman August 3, 2014 - 12:31 pm

Oh nice… I would like to try that, too! I am thinking of taking some cooking classes here in London to pick up a few skills. I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time in Italy!

Reply
Ashley @ Ashley Wanders August 2, 2014 - 11:16 pm

Seems like it’s more simple to make pasta from scratch than I had assumed! The final product looks delicious.

Reply
Brenna Holeman August 3, 2014 - 12:30 pm

Yes, it really is… and yes, it really was!

Reply
Elizabeth @ Rosalilium August 3, 2014 - 11:16 am

How fun?! I consider myself a pretty decent cook but I have yet to try making my own pasta. Better put it on my to do list!

Reply
Brenna Holeman August 3, 2014 - 12:30 pm

I was honestly shocked how easy it was! I just need to find somewhere to buy the proper flour here in London…

Reply
sojourner August 3, 2014 - 7:53 pm

What an amazing experience! The pasta looks so delicious, my mouth is watering while reading this. I’d love to go to Italy and take a cooking course. It really wasn’t that difficult?

Reply
Brenna Holeman August 3, 2014 - 10:48 pm

It was SO easy. I can’t wait to try it again here in London! It would be amazing to spend a whole week (or month, or year) learning how to cook in Italy…

Reply
Shikha (whywasteannualleave) August 5, 2014 - 6:54 pm

It looks so delicious – I am a total pasta addict – yum yum yum!!! would love to try making this!

Reply
Brenna Holeman August 5, 2014 - 8:38 pm

You should! It was indeed delicious…

Reply
Zalie August 7, 2014 - 2:40 pm

You make it look sooooo easy! I want you to make it for me 🙂

Reply
Brenna Holeman August 8, 2014 - 9:55 am

I will try in Canada! Watch me fail miserably…

Reply
sheherazade August 9, 2014 - 12:46 am

Yum!

Reply
Suki F August 19, 2014 - 1:20 am

I have always wanted to learn how to make pasta. I bet yours was delicious!

Reply
Brenna Holeman August 19, 2014 - 2:59 pm

Thanks, Suki… I certainly enjoyed it!

Reply
Cheers to the Weekend! | Girls on a Whim September 12, 2014 - 11:06 am

[…] to make pasta from scratch (The Battered […]

Reply
Clare October 29, 2014 - 1:20 pm

This posts transports me right back to the time I made pasta in Florence. Beautifully written.
Loved meeting you in Athens (TBEX).

Hope to see you in London, Clare x

Reply
Brenna Holeman October 29, 2014 - 2:47 pm

Aw, thank you Clare! It was lovely to meet you, too. See you in London!

Reply
Where To Travel in 2015 - This Battered Suitcase January 13, 2015 - 12:22 am

[…] fell in love. If you’re looking for absolutely stunning scenery, quiet cobblestone streets, delicious food, and long-lasting traditions, you’ll find it all in Basilicata. The city of Matera was […]

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About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After travelling to more than 100 countries over the past 15 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. And up next? I'm about to become a single mom to a beautiful baby boy, the biggest solo adventure I've ever been on. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here .

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Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too.

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