

One brand that has very much solved this problem, according to Nicholson, is Marcato Atlas, an Italian company that has been making pasta machines since 1930. “Even if it’s a 64th of a millimeter off, you’ll have one side of the pasta sheet pulling and being a little bit more narrow, whereas the other side doesn’t grab it quite as much.” That will leave your pasta more prone to tearing, which will undo all your hard work. “As you reduce the space in between them, that’s what makes the pasta sheet get thinner and thinner, and the calibration on those two rollers is very, very important,” explains Linda Miller Nicholson, the author of Pasta, Pretty Please and the “pasta artist” behind the Instagram account Salty Seattle. Pasta machines are basically made of two rollers, which start at a wider width, then taper inward. But even if you’re getting a modest analog pasta-maker, it’s important to invest in the right one. This is especially helpful if you make a Southern Italian–style dough with just flour and water.” Marchetti’s favorite wooden board is two-sided, and each side has a lip, which she says helps you position the board securely against a countertop so it stays put when you’re kneading or rolling dough. That board is currently sold out, but for those who like the sound of it and don’t want to wait for it to come back in stock, we found this option from Overstock that is double-sided and has a lip on both sides.įor most people making fresh pasta at home, an electric pasta machine is overkill.


Meryl Feinstein, the founder of Pasta Social Club in Austin, adds, “Wood absorbs excess moisture, which helps with kneading and getting your dough to the right consistency. “Unlike pie, biscuit, or croissant dough, pasta dough loves warmth - the warmth of your hands from kneading and the warmth of a wooden board,” says Domenica Marchetti, the author of The Glorious Pasta of Italy and the founder of Domenica Cooks.

While you can roll out your pasta directly onto your counter, a wooden board or cutting board can be helpful as a work surface. (If you know what type of tool you’re after, simply click on any of the links above to jump straight to that section.) And to help you find the tools you’re looking for, we’ve organized the products according to when you would use them in the pasta-making process, starting with tools for working with dough, followed by tools for making pasta, tools for drying and storing pasta, and tools for cooking it.
#FUN PASTA SHAPES PROFESSIONAL#
Should you buy a hand-cranked pasta machine, or is it smarter to splurge on an electric model? Do you need a ravioli pin, or will a tablet suffice? What about a drying rack? To figure out which pasta-making tools you really need, we asked six pasta-makers and professional chefs to walk us through everything they use to cut, shape, and cook all sorts of freshly made pasta, from fettuccine to ravioli. But narrowing down what to buy is the hardest part. The dough itself comes together with a few ingredients that you’re likely to already have on hand. To make the popular dish “cacio e pepe” in a cheese wheel you’ll need to follow this recipe.Making pasta at home is easier than you think. The ingredients are very simple and can be customized to your taste. This cheesy pasta is a great dish to make if you really want to impress your friends and family. Note: Salute Trattoria Italiana (permanently closed) Los Angeles, CA: Le Petit Paris photo: on Instagram San Diego, CA: Monello photo: Santa Monica, CA: Forma photo: Forma on Facebook How can I make it? Serve as an easy at-home lunch or pack into small containers for a change of pace from sandwiches. Houston, TX: Ragu & Pesto photo: Ragu & Pesto on Facebook Little Rock, AR: Vesuvio Bistro photo: Vesuvio Bistro on Facebook New York, NY: Cacio e Pepe photo: Cacio e Pepe on Facebook Las Vegas, NV: Prosecco Fresh Italian Kitchen (Henderson) photo: Prosecco on Facebook Small, fun pasta shapes (such as wagon wheels or small shells) and colorful veggies make this naturally vegan lunch box pasta salad appealing to all ages. Please contact any restaurant you are interested in to verify that they are currently open and serving this dish. Here are several places that have served the best versions of this melted cheesy pasta. You can get this dish made tableside, hot and fresh from a carved wheel of cheese, in select Italian restaurants across the country.
