Spaghetti

[Jafo232]

Ok, so I was watching Lidia the other day make her own pasta and run it through a meat grinder (no blade) to make spaghetti.

So I gave it a shot. It came out ok, but a bit "fuzzy", not sleek like I am used to having it. I kinda think I put too many eggs in the dough or something. Searching around the net, I found no decent spaghetti recipes, and since this is rather new for me, I figure I will see what you guys have?

A recipe for spaghetti for four servings would be great and any technique tips you might have. What are the cooking time differences between fresh and dried pasta?

[Mama Mangia]

jafo -

Your homemade spaghetti came out "fuzzy" because you used a meat grinder. Using a meat grinder will not give you the commercial look of smooth strands. It wasn't made for that - but it can be used for it.

Eggs, flour, salt (flour can be all semolina or a combination of semolina and all-purpose) is your basic recipe for pasta.

Cook time - well if I'm working with raw eggs and raw flour when making my pasta I make sure I cook it until it is done - at least 10 minutes. Some say it's done when it floats - I say it's done when it's done.

I'm sorry if I cannot give you "measurements" - I've been making it for so long that I just do it by look, feel and touch. Some will say 1 cup flour for each large egg - but as you start making pasta you will get to know the feel of the dough and make adjustments as needed.

I hope this helps in some way.

Mama

[Jafo232]

Would you say the dough should feel similar to say, bread dough?

[KYHeirloomer]

Jafo, commercial pasta is extruded through bronze dies. This polishes the surface as well as forming the shape.

The dies on your meat grinder are iron, and do not polish the strands. Plus the holes (even on the small die) are larger than those used for spaghetti, which contributes to the fuzziness.

I don't imagine that the flavor was effected, though. And, in fact, the fuzziness might be beneficial, in that sauce is more likely to cling to the pasta.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

You Are A Brave Man Jafo, I Have Yet To Dare Try And Make My Own Pasta!!!

[Mama Mangia]

Making pasta is very easy! I can't believe how many people shy away from it. The dough is not as soft as bread dough. But it should feel firm - not hard.

Even though I have a couple different pasta making machines - I still steer towards the knife for cutting.

[Jafo232]

Thanks for the tips. I think for now, I already have enough on my plate (no pun intended) than to whittle down dough into individual spaghetti without a machine. I do have a full time job ya know.

I wonder if you can buy the bronze plates for smoother pasta?

[Mama Mangia]

Jafo - take a look at some of the pasta machines out there - you'd be surprised! It would most likely be cheaper and less time-consuming than looking for bronze plates!

[KYHeirloomer]

Besides which they wouldn't fit on any machine you have, as they are made to work with rather large (compared to your meat grinder) extruders.

I'd listen to Mama. If you want to make your own pasta, and figure to do a lot of it, get one of the pasta machines and the appropriate cutters to go with it. Or, if you have a KA stand mixer, I hear good things about their pasta making attachment.