Our recipe for Pasta Fatto a Mano is designed to be made entirely by hand, per tradition—a deeply satisfying experience if you've got the time to knead the dough with your hands, roll it out with a rolling pin, and cut it into strands with a knife.
Cooking Tips
How to Roll and Cut Fresh Pasta with a Pasta Machine
Rolling out and cutting fresh pasta by hand is doable and gratifying. But if you are looking for a shortcut, a pasta maker greatly speeds up the work.
By Published Jan. 5, 2023
But you can also use a pasta machine for the rolling and cutting. The appliance greatly speeds up the work of turning any ball of pasta dough into long, delicate sheets and cutting them into strands.
The following tips will work for any fresh pasta dough.
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How to Roll Out Fresh Pasta Dough with a Machine
Letting the sheets of pasta air-dry for about 15 minutes after rolling them slightly “cures” them, making them less likely to tear when you start cutting them.
1. Divide the dough into 6 pieces. Flatten 1 piece of dough into a 1⁄2-inch-thick disk. Using a pasta machine with the rollers set to the widest position, feed the dough through the rollers twice.
2. Bring the tapered ends of the dough toward the middle and press to seal. Feed the dough seam side first through the rollers again. Repeat feeding the dough, tapered end first, through the rollers set at the widest position, without folding, until the dough is smooth. (If the dough sticks to your fingers or the rollers, lightly dust it with flour and roll again.)
3. Narrow the rollers to the next setting and feed the dough through the rollers twice. Continue to progressively narrow the rollers, feeding the dough through each setting twice, until sheets are thin but sturdy, typically setting 5 or 6 on a standard pasta machine. (If the dough becomes too long to manage, halve it crosswise.) Transfer the dough sheets to clean dish towel(s) and let air-dry for about 15 minutes. Repeat rolling with the remaining dough pieces.
Equipment Review
The Best Manual Pasta Machines
What separates a great pasta machine from one that’s just good?Read Our Review
How to Cut Strand Pasta with a Machine
Manual pasta makers often come with a couple of different cutters, and you can also purchase a wide array of additional cutters to create the desired size of strands.
1. Cut the rolled-out and air-dried pasta sheets in half crosswise to make 10-inch lengths.
2. Slide the appropriate cutting attachment onto the machine for the width of the pasta you want to cut. Feed a sheet through the machine, turning the handle with one hand and catching the pasta with the other hand as it is coming out of the machine. This will prevent the noodles from falling into one big pile.
3. Liberally toss the strands with flour and transfer them to a lightly floured rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pasta sheets.
Try our Pasta Fatto a Mano with—or without—a pasta machine!
Pasta Fatta a Mano (Pasta Made By Hand)
You don’t need a machine or years of muscle memory to produce smooth, supple strands. This approach uses the most basic tool: your hands.Get the Recipe
