8 Homemade Pasta Recipes for a Taste of Italian | Pasta Recipes

Italy is famous for its delicious food and pasta is one of the most popular dishes in the world. Homemade pasta has a special place in Italian cuisine and it is loved by people all around the globe. Making pasta at home might seem daunting, but it is actually very simple and easy to do. 

In this article, we will be sharing some homemade pasta recipes that will give you a taste of Italy right in your own kitchen.


( 1 ) Basic Pasta Dough Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

Instructions:

• In a large mixing bowl, add the flour and make a well in the center.
• Crack the eggs into the well and add the olive oil and salt.
• Using a fork, beat the eggs and gradually start mixing in the flour from the edges of the well until it forms a dough.
• Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
• Cover the dough with a damp towel and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out.

( 2 ) Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 batch of basic pasta dough
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream
• 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup of unsalted butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Roll out the pasta dough into thin sheets and cut it into fettuccine noodles.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add the heavy cream and bring it to a simmer.
• Add the grated Parmesan cheese and whisk until it is melted and smooth.
• Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook the fettuccine noodles in a pot of boiling salted water for 2-3 minutes until they are cooked al dente.
• Drain the noodles and add them to the saucepan with the Alfredo sauce.
• Toss the noodles with the sauce until they are coated evenly.
• Serve hot with additional grated Parmesan cheese.

( 3 ) Lasagna Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 batch of basic pasta dough
• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1/2 cup of chopped onion
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon of dried basil
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups of ricotta cheese
• 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

• Roll out the pasta dough into thin sheets and cut it into lasagna noodles.
• In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until the beef is browned and the onion is softened.
• Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper to the skillet and stir well.
• Simmer the sauce for 15-20 minutes until it has thickened.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
• In a large baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom.
• Add a layer of lasagna noodles on top of the sauce, then a layer of the ricotta cheese mixture.
• Repeat the layers of sauce, noodles, and ric
• Sprinkle a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the ricotta cheese mixture.
• Repeat the layering until all the ingredients are used up, ending with a layer of the meat sauce on top.
• Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese on top of the meat sauce.
• Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
• Let the lasagna cool for a few minutes before serving.

( 4 ) Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 batch of basic pasta dough
• 4 slices of bacon, chopped
• 1/2 cup of chopped onion
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup of chopped parsley

Instructions:

• Roll out the pasta dough into thin sheets and cut it into spaghetti noodles.
• Cook the spaghetti noodles in a pot of boiling salted water for 2-3 minutes until they are cooked al dente.
• While the pasta is cooking, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it is crispy.
• Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until the onion is softened.
• In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and grated Parmesan cheese together.
• Drain the cooked spaghetti noodles and add them to the skillet with the bacon and onion mixture.
• Toss the spaghetti noodles with the bacon and onion mixture until they are coated evenly.
• Pour the egg and Parmesan cheese mixture over the spaghetti noodles and toss quickly to avoid scrambling the eggs.
• Season the spaghetti carbonara with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve hot with chopped parsley on top.

( 5 ) Ravioli Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 batch of basic pasta dough
• 1 cup of ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 egg, beaten
• Flour for dusting
• Tomato sauce or pesto sauce for serving

Instructions:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
• Roll out the pasta dough into thin sheets and cut it into square shapes.
• Place a teaspoon of the ricotta cheese mixture in the center of each pasta square.
• Brush the beaten egg around the edges of the pasta square.
• Fold the pasta square in half to create a triangle shape and press the edges to seal.
• Use a fork to crimp the edges of the ravioli to ensure a tight seal.
• Repeat the process with the remaining pasta squares and ricotta cheese mixture.
• Cook the ravioli in a pot of boiling salted water for 3-4 minutes until they float to the surface.
• Drain the cooked ravioli and serve with tomato sauce or pesto sauce.

( 6 ) Penne alla Vodka Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 batch of basic pasta dough
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup of vodka
• 1 cup of canned crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh basil leaves for serving

Instructions:

• Roll out the pasta dough into penne-shaped noodles.
• Cook the penne noodles in a pot of boiling salted water for 2-3 minutes until they are cooked al dente.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet and cook until the garlic is fragrant.
• Add the vodka to the skillet and cook until the liquid is reduced by half.
• Add the canned crushed tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 5-10 minutes until the sauce is thickened.
• Stir in the heavy cream and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce is heated through.
• Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
• Drain the cooked penne noodles and add them to the skillet with the sauce.
• Toss the penne noodles with the sauce until they are coated evenly.
• Serve hot with fresh basil leaves on top.

( 7 ) Pesto Pasta Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 batch of basic pasta dough
• 2 cups of fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup of pine nuts
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Roll out the pasta dough into thin sheets and cut it into your preferred pasta shape.
• Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling salted water for 2-3 minutes until it is cooked al dente.
• While the pasta is cooking, make the pesto sauce.
• In a food processor, pulse the basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, and grated Parmesan cheese until they are finely chopped.
• Slowly add the olive oil to the food processor while pulsing until the mixture is smooth.
• Season the pesto sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
• Drain the cooked pasta and toss it with the pesto sauce until it is coated evenly.
• Serve hot with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

( 8 ) Bolognese Sauce Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup of chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup of chopped celery
• 1 can of crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup of beef broth
• 1/2 cup of red wine
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until it is browned.
• Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped carrots, and chopped celery to the skillet and cook until the vegetables are softened.
• Add the can of crushed tomatoes, beef broth, red wine, bay leaves, salt, and pepper to the skillet.
• Bring the sauce to a boil
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• If the sauce gets too thick, add a little more beef broth to thin it out.
• Serve the bolognese sauce over cooked pasta with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

Conclusion:

Homemade pasta is a delicious and easy way to enjoy Italian cuisine in the comfort of your own home. With these recipes, you can make your own Fettuccine alfredo, Pesto, Penne alla Vodka, Bolognese, lasagna, spaghetti carbonara, and ravioli. Making pasta at home may seem intimidating at first, but with a little practice, you'll be a pro in no time. Experiment with different ingredients and sauces to create your own unique pasta dishes.