The Alchemy of Pasta Dough
A Recipe for Life
There’s something almost magical about pasta dough—the way your hands press into the flour, the slow incorporation of eggs, and the transformation of simple ingredients into something elastic, resilient, and magnificent. It’s a sacred ritual, one that has been passed down through generations.
I started my pasta-making journey just a few years ago and learned so much through the process. Pasta dough teaches patience. It reminds you that good things take time. You can’t rush the kneading, nor can you force the dough to be ready before it is. It will tell you when it’s right—when it springs back after you press your finger into it, when it becomes smooth under your touch. We often try to hurry our becoming in life, but just like pasta, we need to trust the process.
Dough is forgiving. If it's too dry, a little water will bring it back to life. If it’s too wet, a dusting of 00 flour offers balance. Just as my dough on the counter, I, too, am a work in progress. Sometimes, I need softening, a little extra patience with myself. Other times, I need structure—a boundary, a moment of stillness. The beauty of pasta and life is that nothing is ruined beyond repair.
And then there’s the resting. Once kneaded, pasta dough must sit, undisturbed, to let the gluten relax. It might seem like nothing is happening, but this is where the magic takes place. The same is true for us. Sometimes, we need to step back and give ourselves time to let our thoughts, ideas, or emotions settle. Growth happens in stillness, in the spaces between effort and surrender. It’s in the resting where we often find clarity and strength—allowing us to return to our life, ready to take shape in new, beautiful ways.
When the time comes to roll it out and shape it into something new, pasta dough is ready—it stretches, adapts, and transforms. And Mamma Mia, isn’t that what I have done throughout my life! I have bounced back the way pasta dough bounces back after being pressed by a thumb. In gathering my experiences, both joys and struggles, I shaped myself into something resilient, something beautiful, something meant to be shared.
Below is a pasta dough recipe inspired by the one and only Chef Alex Guarnaschelli—a simple but powerful alchemy of two flours coming together to ally with eggs, olive oil, and time. May you find as much joy in the making as you do in the eating. And may you remember that, just like pasta, something extraordinary can emerge from the most basic beginnings.
Homemade Pasta Dough
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups 00 flour
1/3 cup plus two tablespoons semolina flour
8 large egg yolks (Egg inflation be damned!)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:
Mix the 00 flour and semolina flour in a bowl. Add the egg yolks, olive oil, and three tablespoons of water to the flour mixture.
Using a stand mixer or your hands, mix the dough on medium speed for about 3 minutes. Once the dough comes together, reduce the speed to medium-low and knead for another 6 minutes until the dough feels silky and smooth.
If the dough is too sticky, add a pinch of 00 flour.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. (Important: Don’t leave the dough out at room temperature because of the richness of the egg yolks.)
When ready to make pasta, divide the dough into four equal pieces and let them rest for 10 minutes to allow the chill to escape.
Roll each piece out with a rolling pin. (If you don't have one, you can use a bottle of wine—I’ve done it before, and it works wonders!) If you use a pasta machine, adjust the rollers to your desired thickness. Dust with flour as needed.
Shape the dough into your favorite pasta — fettuccini, pappardelle, ravioli, or tortellini. The pasta-bilities are endless!
A Few Pro Tips:
Take your time with the kneading process; this makes the dough silky and perfect for rolling. Do as the Nonni do! This is the ideal upper body workout before you carbo-load.
If you’re using a pasta machine, don't rush through the settings. Slowly move from the widest to the narrowest setting, ensuring your dough gets evenly rolled out.
Experiment with different shapes! Homemade pasta is all about fun and creativity. You can even try using a gnocchi board with this dough.
Love & Pasta,
-JS