Save money and time by batch cooking. Fresh, homemade pasta made with a stand mixer is quick to make, easier than you think, delicious, and stores well in the freezer. Perfect for healthy, home made suppers!
Batch cooking is a great way of saving time and money, and lends itself to all sorts of dishes. There are the obvious things, like a casserole or hearty soup, where doubling the amounts and chilling/freezing the extra for a later day is a no-brainer. But there are other areas where whipping up a big batch can save time and money at a later date.
This fresh pasta is a perfect example, and so easy to make with a stand mixer. Home made pasta uses only flour, eggs, and a dash of salt. The main requirement is to give the dough a really good knead, and it’s here that a stand mixer like the powerful Kenwood Chef Titanium really makes a difference.
How do I make fresh pasta?
Just add all the ingredients to the machine, switch it on to the lowest setting and let the dough come together. Then turn it up a couple of settings and let the machine take the strain and knead for about five minutes.
Once the dough is ready it is time to roll it, you can do this by hand with a rolling pin, or with a hand cranked pasta roller. But of course a powered machine makes things far easier. We use the pasta attachment on the slow outlet on the Kenwood Chef Titanium.
To use a pasta maker, flatten the dough by hand or a rolling pin until it’s about 1 cm thick and easy to feed into the widest setting on the pasta machine.
Pass it through the pasta machine a couple of times on each thickness setting, running the machine at a medium to slow setting. Once down to the second thinnest setting it’s ready to cut into tagliatelle. As the pasta gets thinner the sheet gets longer and longer, you may need to cut it in half for ease of handling.
How do I cut pasta?
You can buy roller pasta cutters, or even a specific pasta cutter that fits to your stand mixer, but for occasional use, it’s easy to lightly dust the freshly made pasta with a little flour, roll it up and cut into strips, and then immediately unroll. Hang the pasta to dry for 30minutes or so (we use a coat hanger) then roll into nests.
The wooden rolling pin-like cutters; despite the fact that they look really pretty (we bought one for this recipe), really do not cut at all. I recommend that you don’t bother with one.
How do I store homemade fresh pasta?
Freshly rolled and cut pasta will keep in the fridge for about 18 hours. Beyond that time, the iron in the egg yolk oxidizes, and the pasta acquires an unappetizing grey-green colour. Commercial plastic packs of fresh pasta are filled with nitrogen, but making your own pasta cuts down on the single use plastic packaging.
Can I freeze homemade fresh pasta?
Pack rollled and cut fresh pasta into a plastic bag and seal, or pop into a plastic box. If, like us, you’re always a little short on freezer space then freeze the kneaded but unrolled dough, and defrost roll out as needed. It will keep for a month or so, making pasta a perfect candidate for batch cooking.
How do I cook fresh pasta
Unlike the dried variety fresh pasta takes very little time to cook. Drop it into a large pot of boiling well salted water, and unfilled pasta (pappardelle, tagliatelle or similar) will cook in a couple of minutes. Filled pasta such as ravioli will take a minute or so more. You can also cook fresh pasta from frozen. Either way, the cooking takes just moments before you’re enjoying the great taste of the freshest of pastas.
Serve with my carroty bolognese!
How To Make Fresh Pasta With A Stand Mixer
Ingredients
- 300 g (2.4 cups) plain flour (preferably "00")
- 150 g (0.9 cups) semolina
- 4 (4) eggs
- 2 (2) egg yolks
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) salt
Instructions
- Add all the pasta ingredients to the bowl of your stand mixer. Using the dough hook, bring the ingredients together on the lowest setting. Then knead for about five minutes one or two setting faster, depending on your machine.
- Cover the bowl and leave the dough to rest for an hour.
- Cut into four, and flatten with your hand or a rolling pin until it will fit in the pasta attachment of your stand mixer.
- Pass through the pasta maker on the widest setting. Pass through again. Reduce the thickness setting of the machine, and pass through twice again.
- Repeat until you have reached the second thinnest setting (if making tagliatelle). If the pasta gets to be too long to handle, simply cut in half.
- Roll and cut into strips with a knife, or slice using a roller tagliatelle cutter.
- Cook in a large saucepan of salted boiling water for about 2 minutes. Add your preferred sauce and serve.
Notes
Recipe for Stand Mixer Fresh Pasta commissioned by Kenwood, all opinions our own. Read more about Kenwood.
Rhian Westbury
I really want to make my own pasta one day as I bet it tastes so much nicer knowing it’s made by you x
Helen
Homemade pasta is certainly tastier than shop bought, and the extra satisfaction of making your own always helps.
Mellissa Williams
I bet it is so satisfying making pasta at home. I would love to make ravioli
Helen
Making ravioli is relatively easy too, worth giving it a try.
Nayna Kanabar
The standmixer has definitely made light work of making the pasta. Nothing beats home made pasta.
Helen
Homemade pasta is SO much better and really easy with the stand mixer and attachment.
Jenny
I can’t believe your Kenwood came with a pasta attachment! I would love to try making my own pasta one day.
Helen
The pasta attachment was separate, but such a good investment!
Linda
Home made pasta does taste different doesn’t it? I have to confess I rarely find the time so end up buying the best quality pre-made one I can.
Helen
Using the stand mixer made light work of it all, for very tasty homemade pasta.
Laura
This is something I really want to give a go this year, have always fancied making my own fresh pasta, Going to start with Gnocchi which looks pretty straight forward and then move onto something like this
Laura x
Helen
It is easy to make Laura, probably easier than you imagine.
Louise
I’ve never made my own pasta before as I always assumed it would be seriously difficult. You make it look so simple, though!!
Louise x
Helen
Relatively easy to make Louise, with few ingredients, and the stand mixer really helped with the mixing.
Charli Bruce
I love making fresh pasta, I normally just do it on the side the old school way like my Nonna taught me how to. Although, using a stand mixer could definitely be easier and less time consuming x
Helen
The stand mixer certainly made light work of the kneading.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
I have a stand mixer and pasta attachment. Homemade pasta is so good. I always feel like I have accomplished something. I may be wrong, but I think I may have seen the Kenwood brand in Canada.
Helen
Making your own pasta is very self satisfying, simple but so very worth it.
Helena
Thank you thank you thank you! The shape of your pasts is exactly what I have been trying to achieve lately. I don’t need to experiment now – you’ve got me covered!
Helen
Happy to help Helena, I hope you enjoy making your own now.
meeta
You know I have been thinking about getting this for my stand-mixer – I keep going back to my manual pasta maker. But seeing this I am re-considering getting this!
Helen
Was so useful Meeta, made light work of the kneading.
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes
I didn’t know it was the iron in the yolk that made it turn. So interesting! Thanks for the tips.
Helen
Little bits of knowledge you pick up that become quite helpful.
Calleigh
I need this pasta stand mixer as I like to make my own pasta. Gonna check this right now.
Helen
The stand mixer really helped with the dough.
Sonal
such an amazing detailed post about making Pasta. I would love to give it a try sometime.
Helen
Worth trying out given the chance, homemade pasta is delicious.
Julia
This Kenwood mixer looks really beautiful. I like the clean lines of the design. And the pasta attachment looks great. What a wonderful idea making your own fresh pasta to save money. It’s something that I never really considered before
Helen
The Kenwood is a great stand mixer, with the added attachments is a great help.
Brandy Myers
Homemade pasta is amazing! I make it once in awhile and have been looking into the attachment for my mixer so that I can make the noodles in larger batches. Thanks for the tips on how to keep them fresh!
Helen
Making batches is really helpful, freezing amounts to have at a later date.
Lisa | Garlic + Zest
Oh, my — I have to be honest, I’ve never tackled homemade pasta — I’ve made gnocchi — but not the sheets of pasta. I think the intimidation factor came from “doing it all by hand”. But that Kenwood mixer looks like it’s tackling the whole thing for me. So versatile — even able to roll out the pasta into thin sheets — love that. I have to get one of these…
Helen
Satisfying rather than intimidating, Lisa.
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Nothing beats fresh homemade pasta. It’s absolutely delicious! I need to make it soon. Also, the stand mixer attachment is so awesome to have on hand.
Helen
Homemade pasta is so good, always worth making.
Courtney Lopez
There is something special about making pasta at home. I’m not sure if I love the flavor and texture more or if it’s the experience, but everyone should make homemade fresh pasta. I haven’t used my standmixer to make pasta, but I definitely need to get the attachment! :)
Helen
I think the flavour and the texture are both improved with homemade pasta.
Sarah
We went to Italy a few years ago, and visited friends and their family. I still remember my friends’ mom’s kitchen had fresh pasta drying from everywhere possible lol. I’d love to try making it myself- this made it look so easy!! And that pasta roller is awesome!
Helen
Must have been a wonderful sight to see all the pasta drying.
Tracy Koslicki
Wow! Nothing beats fresh, homemade pasta. And that machine – it looks amazing! A Kenwood mixer? It’s gorgeous – I’ve never used one but it looks like a dream to work with!
Helen
Having a good stand mixer is wonderful Tracy.
Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon
I LOVE making fresh pasta and I so want a mixer attachment to make it like you have for your Kenwood! I have a hand crank maker and it’s a bit of a project. :) I’ll stay away from the rolling pin cutters though. Thanks for the tip.
Helen
The attachment is such a useful thing to have.
Amanda
What a great pasta making tutorial, and I’m loving this attachment for the Kenwood stand mixer! I actually still have the old fashioned crank roller, and I have to say that it’s tiring by the end of a marathon pasta-making session. A stand mixer with an attachment would certainly make the process much more efficient!
Helen
If you can help yourself and make things easier, all the better.
Tina
Sometimes, i’m like one of those people that are paralyzed by indecision. It’s been on my mind to get a pasta attachment for my mixer. Your step by step pictures is very helpful and motivates me to take the plunge.
Helen
Go for it Tina, you’ll be more than happy.
Britt @ A Lil' Sweet, Spice, & Advice
I’ve heard great things about the Kenwood mixer, but have never seen a picture of one. It looks very sturdy and heavy-duty! I haven’t tried my hand at making homemade pasta yet, but when I build up the confidence to do so I will definitely look into this Kenwood mixer and the pasta attachment, I can only imagine how much longer it would take without this mixer. ?
Helen
Saving your time and hands is always a bonus for anyone in the kitchen.
Amy Nash
I NEED this mixer and attachment! There is nothing like fresh pasta and I’ve been paying way too much for it at the local market. Thank you for this post!
Helen
Making your own is so satifying and a faction of the cost.