Making pasta from scratch can be an intimidating process at first, but with a bit of practise you will realise that it is not difficult. The time and effort required to prepare homemade pasta are definitely worth it. You reward? Delicate and delicious pasta dough with silky texture and rich flavours that will elevate your pasta dishes.
Pasta is the comfort food of choice for millions of people all over the world. One of the main reasons people like to make pasta dishes is their ease; simply put a pot onto boil, add your sauce, and… voilá! It takes around 10-11 minutes to cook dried pasta and about half the time for fresh pasta. Just five minutes for your tasty meal to be ready, what’s not to love?!
Did I just say fresh pasta? Yes, I did! Making your own pasta from scratch is well worth considering, especially if you are spending a lot of time at home – like many of us are doing at the moment because of the pandemic.
I got into the habit of making pasta from scratch last year, during the first lockdown. There is something incredibly nourishing in creating beautiful and delicious food from scratch. Cooking at home gives me something to focus on for a few hours; it distracts me from the news; keeps me away from my phone; cooking keeps me active (trust me, standing at the kitchen counter is a physical activity); finally, creating a dish from scratch gives me instant gratification.
In this post, I want to share with you some of the many good reasons to go homemade when it comes to pasta.
Most food critics will tell you that homemade pasta is always better than store bought. However, it’s important to remember that making pasta is an exact science, and it may take a few batches before you get your ratios right. Do a few test runs when making homemade pasta to make sure you have the recipe correct.
Cooking can help mental health
Whether you are cooking pasta alone or with someone else, it may be worth it for the mental health benefits alone. For many, cooking is a way to relax, find some accomplishment, and focus on one particular thing. If you have some free time at the weekend, making your own pasta could really help you to get into a clear headspace!
And, if you cook more than you need, you could always freeze your pasta and eat it at a later date. Most fresh pasta recipes can be frozen. Alternatively, you could make the dough and let it rest for up to 48 hours before making more pasta.
It’s not actually that much effort!
Making pasta from scratch doesn’t actually require much more time or effort. If you want to make your pasta as fancy and delicious as possible, you will need to knead and rest the dough for a long time – but equally, you can make homemade pasta in five minutes if you’re in a rush. You don’t even need a pasta maker. Just knead the ingredients together and create whatever pasta shapes you want using your hands, like these Tuscan pici pasta.
Even if you make your homemade pasta quickly, it will still be miles better than anything you have bought in the store. And knowing that you have cooked it yourself makes it taste even better.
Making a Years Worth of Homemade Pasta to Preserve Eggs | Make Dinner with Fresh Pasta
FAQ
Is fresh made pasta worth it?
Is fresh pasta better for you than store bought?
What are the benefits of fresh pasta?
Why do people make homemade pasta?
Is buying fresh pasta worth it?
Well, it depends what your priorities are. If you want to eat delicious fresh pasta, with wholesome ingredients and nothing else added, then spending time making pasta is definitely worth it. If you just want the convenience of ready made food, then by any means buy fresh pasta from supermarkets. Just be aware that you are not buying fresh stuff.
Is pasta healthy to eat?
Whole-grain pasta is healthier to eat while compared to refined pasta. Whole-grain pasta is high in fiber, manganese, selenium, copper and phosphorus while refined and enriched pasta is high in iron and B Vitamins. Refined pasta is high in calories and low in fiber, which decrease the feeling of fullness when we eat it. It also contain gluten which is bad for those who are gluten-sensitive. Whole grain pasta lowers appetite and increases fullness more than the refined one. Eating refined carbohydrates has been associated with increased risk of heart diseases, high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.
Is making fresh pasta a good idea?
Making fresh pasta is undoubtedly an act of love. While it may be easier to pick up a box of dried pasta at the grocery store or browse the fresh pasta section at your local Italian shop, making your own homemade pasta is a much more gratifying experience.
Where can I buy fresh pasta?
We’ll keep the dried pasta since that’s what most of us cook most often, but add in fresh (or freshly frozen) pasta bought at a gourmet shop. Our favorite comes from Dave’s Fresh Pasta in Davis Square outside of Boston, and their prices seem both reasonable and representative. • Find It! Dave’s Fresh Pasta in Davis Square, Somerville, MA