The Basics of Homemade Pasta: A Step-by-Step Guide to Perfecting Your Pasta-Making Skills

Pasta is a beloved staple in many households, but have you ever considered making it from scratch? 

Homemade pasta offers a freshness and flavor that store-bought varieties simply can't match. Plus, the process of making pasta from scratch can be incredibly rewarding and surprisingly simple. 

In this comprehensive guide, we'll take you through the steps of making homemade pasta, from selecting the right ingredients to mastering the art of shaping and cooking.

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

The beauty of homemade pasta lies in its simplicity. All you need are a few basic ingredients:

All-purpose flour: Provides the structure and texture of the pasta.

Eggs: Bind the flour together and add richness.

Salt: Enhances the flavor of the pasta.

Optional: Semolina flour or tipo "00" flour for a finer texture.

Step 2: Mix and Knead the Dough

Start by creating a mound of flour on a clean work surface. Make a well in the center and crack the eggs into it. Add a pinch of salt. Using a fork, gradually incorporate the flour into the eggs until a shaggy dough forms.

Once the dough comes together, knead it for about 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. This process helps develop the gluten in the flour, giving the pasta its characteristic chewiness.

Step 3: Rest the Dough

After kneading, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax, making the dough easier to roll out and shape.

Step 4: Roll Out the Dough

Once the dough has rested, divide it into smaller portions for easier handling. Using a rolling pin or pasta machine, roll out each portion of dough into thin sheets. If using a pasta machine, start with the widest setting and gradually decrease the thickness with each pass until you reach your desired thickness.

Step 5: Shape Your Pasta

Now comes the fun part – shaping your pasta! There are countless shapes and styles to choose from, including spaghetti, fettuccine, ravioli, and more. Experiment with different techniques and tools to create your favorite shapes.

Step 6: Cook and Enjoy

Once your pasta is shaped, it's time to cook it. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and carefully add the pasta. Fresh homemade pasta cooks much quicker than dried pasta, usually in just 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye on it to avoid overcooking.

Once the pasta is cooked to your liking, drain it and toss it with your favorite sauce or toppings. Whether you prefer a classic marinara, creamy Alfredo, or simple olive oil and garlic, homemade pasta is the perfect canvas for your culinary creations.

Making homemade pasta may seem daunting at first, but with a little practice and patience, anyone can master the art of pasta-making. By following this step-by-step guide, you'll be well on your way to creating delicious, fresh pasta that will impress family and friends alike. So roll up your sleeves, dust off your rolling pin, and get ready to elevate your pasta game to new heights!

(Image courtesy of Miroro from Pixabay)

Tesco cuts price of pasta and cooking oil with thirty products reduced

The cut in prices comes after the retailer announced drops in the price of milk, butter and bread in recent weeks.                                     

Tesco has announced another significant price reduction for a number of store cupboard essentials. Tesco own brand pasta has been reduced by 15p in stores and online, and vegetable and sunflower oil have also been reduced by up to 15p, too.

The reductions come after the supermarket dropped the price of milk, butter, and bread in recent weeks as part of its commitment to provide great value for customers.

As families continue to watch their weekly spend, the retailer will cut the price of thirty pasta and oil products. The price cuts include dinner-time favourites like penne and spaghetti, down to 80p for 500g. Meanwhile a litre of vegetable oil will drop to £1.85.

A spokesperson said: "Tesco will continue to work closely with its suppliers to ensure customers can benefit from the best possible value."

Tesco Group Chief Product Officer, Ashwin Prasad, said: “As we see deflation coming through on key cupboard essentials like pasta and cooking oil, we're pleased to pass on these savings to customers."

“We hope by reducing prices on these thirty products which are bought week-in, week-out, we can help customers spend less."

“So whether you’re buying a branded favourite covered by our price lock, stocking up on essentials from Aldi Price Match, or treating yourself to an exclusive deal with Clubcard Prices – you can be confident of finding great value at Tesco.”

www.tesco.com.

You won't go pasta these! New! nSriracha Chilli, Original Mac N'cheese, from Kabuto at Tesco

This will be a fantastic find for your pantry! Brand new Kabuto Mac n'Cheese pasta pots. Bursting onto the shelves at Tesco, there's a sizzlingly hot Sriracha Chilli and creamy, oozy Original variations to tantalise the tastebuds and take you on a fun, fusion flavour journey. Available at Tesco stores now. 

These are  the first ever pasta meals from Kabuto, (normally known for its and they're the 'posh pot noodles') are easy peasy cheesy pots of goodness, perfect for Mac n'Cheese obsessed and for those busy souls who need a quick, decent meal packed to the brim with taste. 

It's the ultimate in comfort food heaven and is only ever four four minutes away! Stun your colleagues and make them go spinach pasta green with envy when you whip out this perfect pot at lunchtime, or look forward to a #macncheesemonday when you get home if you just haven't got the energy or time to cook.

After successful roll outs at Ocado and Sainsbury's, this will be Kabuto's third retail listing for their pasta pots. 

Kabuto has modernised this universally acclaimed and beloved dish and made it easier than ever to get your cheesy fix. What specialist items and tools do you required? Nothing more complicated that some cold water and a microwave. 

So, what does this mean, exactly? No more crunchy mac, just proper, soft, squishy tubes of pasta mixed with the creamiest of creamy sauces.

With a market beating 12g of protein too, this is a filling fix that will banish grumbling tummies. No more feeling hangry! 

And there are no additives, preservatives or artificial colours and stuffed full of ,quality ingredients, all Kabuto products are now 100% Vegetarian to cater for Veggie and flexitarian lifestyles too.

And when you're done, pop the whole thing into your recycling, because all of Kabuto's product packaging is100% recyclable and the UK business is carbon neutral, too.

Kabuto Founder Crispin Busk says:- “A Tesco listing for our new Mac N'Cheese is the dream. For far too long the instant mac and cheese at the supermarkets has meant crunchy pasta, bland sauces and no real taste at all, we knew it was time to revitalise and reinvent this delicious dish. 

"We've nailed noodles and it was time to perfect pot pasta, and we think we've smashed it with our new range. We can't wait for the nation's pasta fans, busy families and possibly even the odd hungover foodie to enjoy our latest range of deliciousness. Sales of convenience food is booming and consumers are looking for adventurous meals that don't break the bank."

Available at Sainsburys, Ocado and now Tesco, RRP £1.50 for 85g.

Check out where Mac n'Cheese lives for recipe ideas, hacks, fun and more: https://www.tiktok.com/@kabutonoodles 

Nutritional Values

Original

Fat 2g per 100g

Fat of wich saturates 1.1g per 100g

Salt 0.6g per 100g

Protein 4.6g per 100g

Calories 128 per 100g

Siracha

Fat 2g per 100g

Fat of which saturates 1g per 100g

Salt 0.7g per 100g

Protein 4.6g per 100g

Calories 127 per 100g