Moms Pasta Dough Recipes

BASIC PASTA DOUGH

Steps:

• On a clean dry work surface, make a mound of the flour and, using your fingers, make a well in the center of the mound. Using a fork, break the shell of the eggs one by one and drop the eggs into the center of the well you made of the flour. With the fork, beat the eggs together. Again using the fork, slowly begin to fold the flour in towards the center of the well to incorporate the flour into the beaten eggs. As you mix the flour with the beaten eggs, it will begin to form a doughy mass. Work this mass using your fingers until it begins to lose its moist and sticky character.
• When the mass begins to feel uniformly dry, begin to work the dough using both hands: kneading with the palms of both hands, pushing from the center of the ball of dough outwards and folding the near edge inwards to begin the kneading cycle again. The kneading stage should take about 10 minutes by hand.
• After the dough has been fully kneaded, it is time to thin the dough into sheets suitable for cutting. A manual pasta machine works wonders at this stage. Cut the ball of dough into three equal pieces. Form these pieces, by hand, into equal rectangular shape to be passed through the rollers of the pasta machine. Set the cylindrical rollers at their widest opening, put a piece of dough in the space between rollers and crank the handle to pass the dough through. As the sheet of pasta comes out the bottom of the rollers it should be set on a dry cotton towel to rest while you begin on the next piece. Repeat the thinning process with the remaining pieces of pasta, thinning and then setting aside, consecutively so that each piece of pasta is equally rolled out. When all the pasta has passed through the first rolling stage, set the machine to the next setting to begin rolling the pasta thinner. Start the rolling process again, beginning with the first piece of dough and continue with the remaining pieces. As each is rolled thinner set it aside and continue onto the next.
• As you return to the first piece of dough, set the cylinders one setting closer. Continue in this fashion until the pasta dough has been rolled out as thinly as possible.
• As the sheets of dough rest, keep them on a cotton towel, to prevent sticking to the work surface. When they are all rolled out you are ready to cut the pasta into the desired shape. They can be cut using the cutting wheels of the rolling machine or by hand using a knife.

HOMEMADE PASTA DOUGH

Steps:

• On a clean work surface or in a large bowl, combine both flours and 1 teaspoon salt. Make a well in center; add 1 cup warm water and oil. Using a fork and whisking outward from the center of well, gradually incorporate flour mixture into liquid until a ragged dough forms.
• Transfer to a lightly floured work surface and knead until dough is smooth and springs back when pressed with a finger, 8 to 10 minutes. While kneading, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if dough feels too dry; or add more "00" flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, if dough feels too sticky.
• Pat dough into an approximately 1-inch-thick square; tightly wrap in plastic and let stand at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours before using.

BASIC FRESH PASTA DOUGH

Steps:

• Mound the flour in the center of a large, wide mixing bowl. Dig a well in the center of the mound and add eggs and yolks. Using a fork, beat together the eggs and begin to incorporate the flour, starting with the inner rim of the well. The dough will start to come together in a shaggy mass when about half of the flour is incorporated.
• Use your fingers to continue to mix the dough. Press any loose bits of flour into the mass of dough. If needed, add another egg yolk or a tablespoon of water to absorb all of the flour. Once the dough comes together into a cohesive mass, remove it from the bowl.
• Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for 4 to 5 more minutes until the dough is smooth, elastic and uniform in color. Wrap the dough in plastic and set aside for at least 30 minutes (and up to 4 hours) at room temperature.
• Line three baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly dust with semolina flour. Set aside.
• Cut off a quarter of the dough. Rewrap rest, and set aside. Use the heel of your hand to flatten the dough into an oval approximately the same width as your pasta machine, about six inches. Set the rollers to their widest setting and pass the dough through.
• Lay the dough out onto a lightly floured cutting board or countertop and neatly press together into halves, so it's again about the same width of the pasta machine. Feed the pasta through again at the widest setting. Think of these first rollings as an extended kneading. Continue to fold the dough in thirds and roll it until it is smooth, silky and even-textured. Do your best to make the sheet the full width of the machine.
• Once the dough is silky and smooth, you can begin to roll it out more thinly. Roll it once through each of the next two or three settings, adding flour as needed, until the dough is about 1/4-inch thick.
• Once the pasta is about 1/4-inch thick, begin rolling it twice through each setting. As you roll, lightly sprinkle all-purpose or 00 flour on both sides of the pasta to prevent it from sticking to itself.
• Roll out pasta until you can just see the outline of your hand when you hold it under a sheet, about 1/16-inch thick for noodles, or 1/32-inch thick for a filled pasta. (On most machines, you won't make it to the thinnest setting.)
• Cut pasta into sheets, about 12 to 14 inches long. Dust the sheets lightly with semolina flour and stack on one of the prepared baking sheets and cover with a clean, lightly dampened kitchen towel. Repeat with remaining dough.

MOM'S SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut celery and onion (and bell pepper if used) as fine as you prefer.
• If you like chunky style sauce make the pieces bigger, I like mine chopped fairly small.
• In a large skillet, heat 1-2 tblspn of oil, when oil is hot (not smoking) add celery and stirfry.
• As celery begins to clarify, add onion (and bell pepper, if used) and stirfry until it begins to glaze, add chopped garlic, stir for a short time (don't let anything begin to brown).
• If using meat, add ground beef or stew beef and brown, stirring regularly, adjust heat to make sure nothing burns.
• Salt and black pepper to taste.
• Transfer to a larger pot (if you have a good sized pot that you can brown in, you can just start with that instead of using the skillet.).
• Stir in tomato paste and cook until the color darkens.
• Stir in tomatos and tomato sauce.
• Add spices (Italian seasoning or individual spices) to taste.
• Add 3 Bay Leaves.
• Stir in mushrooms and/or black olives and crushed red pepper, if desired.
• Stir in 1-2 cans of water (I use the tomato paste, tomato and tomato paste cans to get the leavings out of them.).
• Adjust heat to simmer.
• Let cook for at least 1 hour, longer if you can, and stir regularly.
• Check spice to taste and add what you want.
• You can cook this for a little while or for a longer time.
• I prefer at least 2 hours to give all the spices a chance to blend well.
• But it can be cooked for as little as a half hour.
• If you want it to cook for a long time, monitor the thickness and add water as needed.
• Don't forget to remove the Bay Leaves before serving.
• Some people like to add a pinch of sugar to cut the acidity, but I believe that the Bay Leaves accomplish this and have never used sugar.
• When done, serve over or mix with the cooked pasta of your choice.
• Add grated parmissan if desired.
• Also individuals can add crushed red pepper to their own servings, for those who like it a little spicier.
• If making a baked dish such as Lasagna, Ziti, etc.
• you may want to make the sauce a little thinner (add water) to start with.

MOMOS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Stir together flour and warm water in a bowl until a dough forms. Turn dough onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead until dough is smooth and springs back slightly when touched, 10 to 15 minutes. Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Make the filling: Place potatoes in a saucepan, and cover with cold water by about 2 inches. Add a large pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until potatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, and let cool slightly. Peel potatoes, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Stir together the remaining ingredients except hot sauce, plus 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Gently stir in potatoes. Cover, and refrigerate while you roll out the dough.
• Divide dough into 4 pieces. Work quickly, with 1 piece at a time, keeping the remaining pieces covered with an inverted bowl. Flatten dough into an oblong slightly thinner than the pasta machine's widest setting (number 1 on a KitchenAid pasta roller). Feed through machine. Turn dial to next narrower setting. Pass dough through, gently supporting it with your palm. Continue to press dough, passing it through ever-finer settings, until very thin but still intact (number 5 of 8 on a KitchenAid pasta roller). Transfer to a lightly floured cutting board. Using a 3 1/2-inch round cutter, cut out rounds. Transfer to a lightly floured baking sheet, and dust with flour. Cover with parchment and a barely damp kitchen towel. Repeat, rolling and cutting 1 sheet at a time.
• Lightly moisten edge of 1 dough round with a finger dipped in water. Cup round in the palm of your hand, and spoon 1 scant tablespoon filling in center. Place the thumb of the hand holding the dumpling over center of filling. Use the thumb and index finger of your free hand to pinch a portion of dough on one side to form a pleat. Make another pleat next to it. Repeat, rotating dumpling slightly as you work your way around, pressing each new pleat so it falls next to the one beside it. The pleats will begin to close around the thumb holding in the filling. Remove thumb, and hold top pleats while you twist the bottom of the dumpling in the opposite direction. Press with your finger to make a small indentation in the center of the pleats, pinching up edges. Make sure dumpling is tightly sealed and air has been pressed out. Return to sheet; cover, and repeat.
• Steam dumplings in batches in an oiled steamer insert or a bamboo steamer set over simmering water until shiny, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve with hot sauce.