By now most of you must be aware of my love affair with Italian Cuisine. Be it any time or any day, give me a bowl of pasta, I would be a happy soul. I have had my share of store bought and packaged pasta – penne, fusilli, spaghetti, lasagna and the likes. I have tried some of the best brands available in our super markets to some of the local made ones. I have tried different types of pasta as well – whole wheat, durum wheat and what not. Although the results would be satisfying and much better than having it out, I was never truly satisfied.
The game plan changed a couple of weeks back when I spotted a pasta machine in one of the shops. To say that I was elated would be an understatement. Although I was pretty sure it was a pasta maker, I was very skeptical especially given that the store guys did not know how to demo it to us. I still got one, not able to contain my excitement. It was late at night when we came back home and that was not enough to stop me from trying out some pasta preparation. I had some whole wheat dough and the pasta came out beautifully – atleast that’s what I thought. I had to still work on my recipe though. I wanted a fail proof recipe that could be prepared easily at home. Then started my eternal search for a recipe that was essentially eggless and was fail proof too. After spending almost a day looking for it, I decided to try out the different things I learnt and that’s how this vegan 3 step easy pasta dough recipe was formulated.
I used very fine semolina and made a dough out of it with pretty much nothing but water. The only trick is to knead it really well for 5-7mins, stretching the dough everytime it’s kneaded. The next important thing to rest it enough for atleast 30 mins and viola – homemade pasta dough is ready to roll. In my pasta machine, I have the options to roll the pasta sheet – with 6 settings (with number 6 being the thickest). I start with the widest setting first, rolling the dough longer every time. Each time, keep reducing the thickness of the pasta roller to get thinner pasta sheet. Once the sheets are about 2mm thick, they can be run through the fettuccine or spaghetti cutter on the other side of the machine to get long strings of pasta. Cooking this pasta is super easy – takes not more than 2 mins at the maximum. If the sauce is kept ready, cooked pasta can be mixed and that’s it! I can’t begin to say how easy this is, really. Another best thing – I know for sure there are no preservatives – it’s fresh, it’s homemade and it’s tasty. It’s so silky that it melts in your mouth. A very big bowl of pasta that can serve 6 people can be made for less than 20 Rupees, I kid not.
Without further delay, here is my homemade pasta from scratch recipe –
To make Vegan Home-made Pasta | Fettuccine Pasta from Scratch
What I used –
- Fine Semolina/Sooji, 1.5 cups
- Water, less than ½ cup (adjust)
- Salt, as required (while cooking the pasta)
- Olive Oil, 1 tsp
- Water, as required (to cook pasta)
- Whole Wheat Flour, to dust the pasta
How I made –
1. In a large bowl, take the semolina and make a well in the center of it. Pour less than half cup of water and using a fork or spoon bring sides of the semolina together until it all looks crumbly. Using your hands, bring the dough together. It would not look fine but should form a ball of dough as shown below. Knead this dough for 5-7 mins stretching it away from your body and folding it again. Repeat this process until the dough is nice and smooth. Wrap it in cling film and set aside for at least 30 mins.
2. Take a ball of dough while keeping the rest of the dough still wrapped in cling film. Dust it with some whole wheat flour. Meanwhile, set up your pasta machine on a table lined with table cloth. Place newspapers around it to avoid mess. Set the pasta roller on maximum thickness and roll the ball of dough. With every roll, reduce the thickness of the pasta roller. When you are in setting 4 or when the sheet of rolled pasta is long enough, dust it with some whole wheat flour and fold each end of it towards the center. Repeat the rolling process. I went as far as setting number 2 to get 2mm thickness of my rolled pasta. Dust it on both sides with flour.
3. Bring a large pot of water to boil with 1.5 teaspoon or more of salt and a teaspoon of olive oil. Meanwhile, cut the rolled pasta in half (if it’s too long). Take each half of the pasta sheet and roll it on the fettuccine cut on the pasta machine. When the fettuccine pasta is out, dust it with some more flour if it’s sticky. Drop the fettuccine in the boiling water. It sinks to the bottom of the pot. Reduce the flame to medium. Slightly toss it over after 30 secs and the pasta should be swimming freely in the boiling water. In about 2 mins, the pasta floats to the top of the water – which means it’s cooked. Remove it on to a bowl.
Come back tomorrow to find out what has been made with this vegan homemade fettuccine! 🙂
Note –
- If you don’t have pasta machine and do not want in invest in one, roll the pasta dough really thin (make sure it’s all even) and cut it into thin strips.
- Some of the recipes called for 00 flour to be added along with the semolina. I couldn’t find the flour and yet this pasta has become a huge hit at home. We have already made it thrice so far!
- Kneading and resting the dough are very essential.
- Usually the salt is not added to the pasta dough while preparing but only during cooking.
- I usually do not add oil while cooking the pasta but as this is fresh pasta, I did want it to turn into one gloppy mess while cooking. This is more of a precaution, but don’t think I have to be afraid anymore. Will update after my next trial.
Freda @ Aromatic essence
You nailed it! It's perfect 🙂
CHCooks
Thank you Freda 🙂
srividhya
Wow super awesome n great.. homemade pasta simply amazing. Great GB. You are now tempting me to buy this machine..
CHCooks
Thanks thanks thanks Sri 🙂 Do get one if you are Italian food fanatic like me 🙂 I see total value for money given that I make pasta atleast once a week 🙂
pattubaby06
Good job!
CHCooks
Thank you 🙂
It's All About Food
Woah
CHCooks
🙂 🙂
dreamzandclouds
oo la la .....you must be one happy woman, making pasta at home is so interesting & you did so well 🙂
CHCooks
Oh yes yes 🙂 🙂 I was more than elated, having my own pasta machine at home 😀 Thank you M!
dreamzandclouds
🙂
The Girl Next Door
I have always wanted to make pasta from scratch at home, mainly because I want to make it without the maida. I would love to buy a pasta machine. Could you guide me about where I can buy it, price, etc?
That pasta looks just perfect!!
CHCooks
One of the reasons I invested in this machine is to get away from the store bought pasta, TGND. So far I am super impressed with the results. I plan on trying a wheat flour version, although I am not sure how successful it would be.
I had been looking for a pasta machine for quite sometime. Amazon has a few brands. I didnt read through many reviews though. This one, I got from Itsy Bitsy craft store - lucky find I should say. Priced at 1849 as of two weeks ago. They do an home delivery as well, but heard its not very quick. The machine is some German made, doesnt come with any instruction manual. The sales guy did not even know what it is until I showed him a demo 😀 😀 The make is good and solid enough. Cleaning is a bit tough as washing is not recommended. We are cleaning it thoroughly with a cloth immediately after use.
The Girl Next Door
Can it make different shapes of pasta or just one?
CHCooks
There are only three attachments - one to roll the pasta sheet, one to make fettuccine and one for spaghetti. The rolled out pasta sheet can be used for Lasagna, Ravioli and the likes. You can not make penne for sure unless you spend time cutting the made pasta sheet into tiny squares and sticking them into rolls. Fusilli is possible but that again would be time consuming. You can make the bow-tie pasta by cutting the rolled pasta sheet using a cookie cutter and pressing it to shape.
This machine helps you roll the dough evenly and as thin as possible which is not quite easy otherwise. As I said in my notes, if you perfect the rolling, you can cut it into longish strips. Need not necessarily have this machine. The dough recipe works both ways.
Hope this was helpful 🙂
skd
That's amazing!!!
CHCooks
Thanks!! 🙂
perspectivesandprejudices
This looks fantastic but I've always been curious - does it take up a lot of counter space? Both the rolling and the laying out rolled pasta.
CHCooks
P.. I don't have much of counter space, so I end up using my dining table to set this up. Doesn't take all that space but it can turn out a bit messy without the newspapers, esp with all the dusting of flour.
perspectivesandprejudices
My dining table is a tiny 4-seater so this purchase will have to wait a bit, I think 🙂
CHCooks
okay! 🙂 🙂 You do try this even with out the machine.. only have to roll the pasta dough thin and even. Cut into strips and I think that variety is called pappardelle pasta 😀
perspectivesandprejudices
That I can do 🙂 I'll let you know how it works out
CHCooks
Sure - will wait to hear from you 🙂
Traditionally Modern Food
Wow homemade pasta is awesome ya.. Seeing the pics I m tempted.. Looks yum:-) I should buy this
CHCooks
Thank you Vidya 🙂 Do invest in one if you love pastas! 🙂
Lynz Real Cooking
This looks amazing! yumm! I love pasta!
CHCooks
Thank you Lynn 🙂 Glad you like it!
Lynz Real Cooking
it looks so good!
CHCooks
Thank you Lynn 🙂
Love Served Daily
These look perfect. Well done
CHCooks
Thanks much Ritu 🙂
Bharani
looks great... and I know how good it feels to make anything from scratch 🙂
after seeing your pasta machine I am planing to take pasta making attachment for my Kitchen Aid 🙂
CHCooks
Yay!!!! Nice Bharani - do post about your experiences 🙂
Chitra Jagadish
Wow homemade pasta -that looks great Ch... 🙂
CHCooks
Thank you for commenting 🙂
bhumi
I am in love with your recipe...n this pasta maker too....making something from scratch gives you so much satisfaction....m totally gonna try this out.....though I don't have pasta machine...but will follow your instructions
CHCooks
Sure, this recipe especially works without the pasta maker too! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Bhumi 🙂