A classic Italian dish that is easy to make is pasta.Fresh noodles can be made with a pasta maker.By preparing your dough and making your noodles thin enough to cook, you can use your pasta maker to create beautiful dishes for your friends and family.
Step 1: Divide your dough into pieces.
Your pieces should be small enough to fit in your machine.Your dough should be freshly-made and have rested in plastic wrap for around 20 minutes.You will only be working with one piece of dough at a time, so you can keep the remaining 3 wrapped in plastic.A flat scraper is the best tool for this.A large knife can be used.Before you start using your pasta machine, you should make your dough.
Step 2: To prepare your dough, flatten it into a shape.
It is possible to spread out your dough piece into a rectangular shape that is about the same width as your pasta machine opening.The dough can be gently kneaded using the heel of your palm.Don't spread your dough out too much, keep it about half a inch thick.Not to make it thinner, but to get your dough ready for the machine.You don't need to use your hands for this step.The dough will be too big if a rolling pin is used.
Step 3: Dust your piece of dough.
You should flour your dough every time you feed it.It makes your dough easier to work with and less sticky.If you want to grab the dough without tearing it, you should cover your hands in flour.
Step 4: Attach the machine to the counter, table, or cutting board.
Make sure you have enough room to turn the crank and that your pasta machine is attached to a secure surface.Number 1 is the widest setting on most pasta machines.It's a good idea to read the manual on your machine before you start using it to make sure you're aware of all the precautions you need to take.
Step 5: Feed the first piece of dough.
Slowly insert your dough into the pasta machine while you turn the crank.As you want your dough to be evenly spread, use your crank slowly and steadily.The machine can be damaged if you force the crank to turn too fast.It's important to catch the dough before it falls onto a hard surface.It is possible to have a friend turn the crank while you feed the dough through the machine.
Step 6: Make it shorter by folding your dough into thirds.
Take each end of your dough and fold it towards the middle, creating a small envelope shape out of it.Press lightly on the top of the dough to stick each layer together.
Step 7: When your dough comes out of the machine, sprinkle flour on it.
Dust your dough in flour when it comes out of your pasta machine to keep it from sticking to the machine or your hands.Dust the dough and the surface around it with a light coating to keep it from tearing or sticking.To make sure the dough doesn't stick to you as you handle it, you can keep your hands coated in flour.
Step 8: 5 more times, put the dough into the machine.
You should flour your dough before putting it into your pasta maker.This will make your dough thinner.Make sure to grab the dough with your hand when it leaves the machine to prevent it from falling onto a hard surface.If you want to keep your machine free of dough that is too thick, you should keep it on the largest setting for the first five pass-throughs.
Step 9: The machine should be set to a thinner setting.
Depending on how thin you want your noodles to be, you can set your machine to a smaller setting as you put your dough through it.You should check the recipe to see how thin you want your dough to be.
Step 10: Attach your pasta maker to create noodles.
The attachment on your pasta machine can be used to cut your dough.Depending on what type of pasta you are making, this attachment will look different.Feed your dough into your machine based on the instructions in the manual, then catch it with your hands before it hits a counter or table.If you want to make stuffed pasta, you should use a knife and not a machine.You can place your filling in a decent sized pasta piece.
Step 11: You should repeat the steps with each piece of dough.
You can use the rest of your dough after you make noodles out of one piece.You want to cook your noodles right away so that they don't dry up and become hard.You can keep the noodles that are already made on the drying rack or baking sheet.Dusting your noodles will keep them from sticking together.