How to Make Homemade Pasta Without Machine

Many machines exist to help home cooks make fresh pasta, such as mixers and automatic pasta-cutting appliances. It isn't impossible to make pasta without them -- just more labor intensive. The easiest pasta to make at home without machines is egg pasta. Using flour, eggs, olive oil or water to form dough, the pasta can be rolled out and cut by hand into the desired shape. The pasta dough should be of even thickness so that the pieces cook evenly.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 cups flour
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Rolling pin
  • Paring knife
  • Plastic cutting board (optional)
  • Stockpot

Dough

  1. Pour 2 cups of flour into a large bowl.

  2. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Mix well.

  3. Add three beaten eggs and 1 teaspoon olive oil to the flour.

  4. Mix with a fork until slightly crumbly.

  5. Dust your hands with flour. Press the crumbly dough into a large ball.

  6. Knead the dough on a floured surface. Work the dough for approximately 10 minutes or until smooth.

Cutting

  1. Roll out the dough. Using a rolling pin, spread the dough until it is thinner than 1/8 inch. Dust the rolling pin with flour to keep the dough from sticking to it.

  2. Cut the dough into 1/4-inch strips with a paring knife. Use a clean, plastic cutting board as a guide, if desired.

  3. Air-dry the pasta for 30 to 40 minutes before cooking.

Cooking

  1. Boil 8 cups of water in a large stockpot.

  2. Add 2 teaspoons salt to the boiling water.

  3. Add the pasta to the stockpot. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until the pasta is tender but firm, also known as al dente.