by Texas Homesteader
*this post contains an affiliate link
Once I began on my voluntary simplicity journey I became interested in how to make more of the items my family consumed. I knew in doing so it would be healthier, less expensive and gentler on the earth.
So I learned to make my own spice mixes and I cooked more from scratch. A garden was planted & expanded each year. And I learned to make things such as yogurt and pasta. I found much pride and enjoyment in learning old-time methods.
Like many of the things I’ve learned to make myself, I was shocked at how easy and inexpensive pasta is to make and how few basic ingredients are involved. Had I really become so far removed from my food that I was under the misconception that it was too difficult to provide this for myself?? And I’ve experimented recently with making flavored 3-color Pasta too!
But let’s talk about plain pasta today. So versatile, so easy! Other than water there are only 3 ingredients in my pasta recipe: Flour, Egg & Salt.
Wanna be amazed? Here’s how easily it all comes together.
Easy Pasta-Making Steps
I start by measuring two cups of all-purpose flour on my counter. Some use special semolina flour for making pasta. But I typically use plain ole all-purpose flour for mine. It always turns out delicious. Use whatcha got!
Today I took advantage of the oregano I recently harvested & dried from my garden. I sprinkled about 1/2 teaspoon of the powdered dried oregano right into the flour. This will add an Italian flavor to my pasta. Finally I added 1/2 teaspoon of salt and stirred it all together with a fork.
Then I made a little well in the middle of my flour mountain and cracked an egg into it. I stirred the egg with my fork until it was mixed well. Then I slowly added 1/2 cup water, stirring with my fork and gradually incorporating more & more flour until it became thicker.
Finally I mixed it all together with my hands as it became a dough. I knead it until it’s smooth. (maybe around 4 minutes) The dough is then divided into 3 equalish pieces and covered with a towel, allowing it to rest for 15 minutes.
Rolling Out The Pasta Dough
After the dough has rested you can roll out the pasta dough and cut it to the length & width you like. You can accomplish that with just a rolling pin and a knife of course. But I was given this *Pasta Machine years ago as a gift and I love it. So I typically use it instead.
Although I can roll the pasta on my own using this pasta maker, it’s helpful for two people to work the pasta roller: someone to feed the dough and catch the ribbon of pasta that comes out the bottom and someone else to turn the crank.
So this meal typically becomes a shared family activity for RancherMan & me here on the homestead. Love it!
My pasta maker has two different cutting widths. One for thin spaghetti noodles and one for fettuccine-sized noodles.
But today I won’t cut the rolled-out sheets at all. I’m rolling the pasta dough into lasagna sheets so I can make delicious homemade ravioli for supper tonight.
Of course I’ll make enough to freeze for future meals since I use the ‘Cook-Once Eat-Twice‘ method of cooking. Here’s my simple 3-ingredient pasta recipe:
Easy Homemade Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1 Egg
- 1/2 Cup Water
Instructions
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Measure 2 cups all-purpose flour on a counter and stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center of the flour and crack an egg into the center. Slowly add 1/2 cup water, mixing with a fork and gently incorporate the flour into the egg mixture a little at a time.
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Once you have incorporated the flour with the fork, use your fingertips to blend the mixture well. If the dough seems too dry add 1/2 teaspoon of water, if it seems too wet and sticks to your fingers add a light dusting of flour.
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Form a ball with the dough. Knead the pasta dough as you would bread dough, pushing down and away with the palm of your hand, turn the dough 1/2 turn, fold in half and press again with the palm of your hand. Repeat this movement until dough is smooth, about 4 to 6 minutes. Cut the dough into 3 equal sections, form each section into a ball and cover with a towel and let rest for 15 minutes.
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After the dough has rested, flatten one of the dough balls until it's about 1/2 inch thick and roll into the desired thickness. Then cut the dough into noodles. After cutting the dough, hang the pasta on a wooden dowel to dry. The pasta can be used right away or it will keep for about a week after thoroughly dried.
~TxH~
Other Main Dish Recipes We Love
- Poor Man’s Stuffed Steak (hamburger)
- Award-Winning Cowboy Chili
- Slow-Cooker Spicy Sticky Chicken
- Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Lasagne Cooked In Its Shell
- Savory Meatloaf
- Lazy Cook’s Chile Relleno
- Hot & Hearty Cabbage Stew
- Homemade Chicken & Dumplings
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole
- Meat-Stuffed Ravioli
- Homemade Pork Tamales
- Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Homemade Pasta – Only 3 Ingredients!
- Southwest Chicken w/Seasoned Brown Rice
- Homemade Tamales (includes Instant-Pot shortcut)
- Homemade Meals Every Day – The EASY Way!
Pork Roast Recipes:
- Slow-Cooker Pork Roast w/Veggies
- Instant Pot Pork Roast
- Pork Roast w/Red Wine
- Italian-Flavored Pork Roast
- Pecan-Smoked Meat For BBQ
- (Easily Shredding Pot Roast in Minutes)
Recipes Using Leftover Roast:
- Carnitas Tacos
- (MYO Crispy Taco Shells in Minutes)
- Pulled Pork Enchiladas
- Hearty Meaty Stew
- Homemade Tamales
- Pulled Pork BBQ
- (Homemade Honey-Sweetened BBQ Sauce)
See All Our Recipes
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I was just thinking about making my own pasta last night! I’ve never tried it, but I recently made my own ricotta cheese and am so excited with that success. I heard that making noodles isn’t too difficult and so worth it. It’s perfect timing that I saw your post today. ๐ I might try to add in some whole wheat flour just because I love the texture it gives to things. Plus, hubby’s a health nut.
Would you please tell me which final number on the dial you used for making the lasagna noodles? Thank you.
Sue, you can make the noodles as thin or thick as you like of course but I don’t care for them too thin. Most of the time when I send the dough through the final roll the dial # is set to 3, which is just about right for us.
You brought back great meomories – my Mom always made homemade noodles and then she would let me roll out the dough and slice them into noodles. I haven’t even thought of making noodles since I moved away from home. Seeing the pasta cutter makes me think maybe I should give it a try again
Looks SO easy! I actually have that pasta machine but I have only used it to flatten biscuits. Thanks for sharing at the Happiness Is Homemade Link Party! Awesome post! I have pinned it to the Happiness Is Homemade Party Board. I can’t wait to see what you link up next week!
Cathy
APeekIntoMyParadise.com
I LOVE making pasta! Once you do it is hard to go back isn’t it? What filling do you use in your ravioli? I have the latest MJFarm Magazine marked to make the Pasta recipes in there including the pasta. Thanks for sharing the steps for this. Everyone should try this!
Debbie, there’s a link to my ravioli recipe right in this homemade pasta post. Check it out & give it a try!
My husband loves making home made pasta. For Christmas I got him the Kitchen Aid Pasta maker and I got him a ravioli kit too. I will have to show him your recipe. Thank you for joining us on our Four Seasons Blog Hop. Pinning Now.
Hi Tammy! Thanks for sharing the recipe! I hope to make it soon and use my homemade Italian sausage for the filling! Have a great day! Blessings from Bama!
Thanks so much for sharing at A Peek Into My Paradise TGIF Link Party! I can’t wait to see what you link up next week! I hope to see you at the (Not SO) Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/
Have a terrific week!
Hugs, Cathy
As much as we eat pasta, I really should try to make some!! How fun to add your own herbs! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
A pasta maker has been on my wish list!
I learned how to make pasta years ago in 4H and haven’t made it since (40+ years ago). I think it’s time to dust off the pasta attachment to my Kitchen Aid and see what happens! I also read on a blog about a month or so ago that you can forgo the water and add a pureed vegetable instead – like carrots – to make the pasta a bit more on the healthy side! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Vickie, I’ve made spinach lasagne noodles before, but it’s been years . Thanks for the reminder, that is *SO* gonna happen next time I make pasta!
Now I need to make pasta. You make it look so easy. I just have such a small kitchen.
Heidiโs Wanderings
I once saw Alton Brown (on the Food Network) clamp the pasta machine to one end of an ironing board; with a clean cover of course, and rolled the pasta to the desired length. This method enabled him to make the pasta by himself!!
We have the clamp kind as well Barbara, but I find it’s easier (and so much more fun) to make it a two-person activity. I’ve rolled the pasta on my own but it goes so much more smoothly with him turning the crank as I feed the pasta dough through one end and catch the rolled-out pasta on the other end. Hey, I’m a happy girl that RancherMan enjoys being in the kitchen with me!
Love the simplicity! Thanks for sharing this with us at One Sharendipity Place this weekend!!
Krys @thet2women.com and www.worshipingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com
I haven’t made my own pasta in awhile and it is really simple to do. We made homemade perogies and lasagna noodles awhile ago and they were so delicious! Thanks for linking up to the Friday Follow Along.
What a great tutorial. So easy! I’ll bet it tastes amazingly fresh. I guess you cook it less?
Daisy – Of course it depends on how thick or thin you roll your pasta, but I’ve found it’s usually about 25% less cooking time than the commercial stuff, give or take.
I love the simplicity of homemade pasta. I have never made it and have bookmarked it. i will check back with you regularly. Followed you from the Frugal Fit Family Friday hop. ๐
Give it a try, it’s very easy to do and so versatile since you can add herbs if you want (like I did) Makes a great homemade gift as well. ~TMR~
I love, love the chalkboard sign in the background!! ๐
I have tried egg noodles a few times but never pasta. I got an attachment for my Kitchen Aid Mixer but haven’t messed with it much. This is definitely on my list of things to master! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks Candy! Give pasta another try. Really, it’s so simple it’s shocking. It’s even better if you make it today for tonight’s supper – no drying and storing necessary, just let the noodles dry during the day & cook them up tonight. S-I-M-P-L-E! ~TMR~