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Want to make pasta, but lack the motivation to do all that mixing and kneading by hand? No problem. If you have a food processor, you can have a batch of pasta dough ready in about two minutes flat.

The fast-working action of the food processor blade mixes those eggs into the flour faster than your fingers ever could — and gives the dough a good kneading at the same time.

The resulting dough is soft and supple. After a short rest, it’s ready to be rolled and cut into fettuccine, homemade ravioli wrappers, or whatever your pasta-loving heart desires.

Making The Dough By Hand or In the Food Processor

After making pasta the old-school way for many years, I’ve come to really love making a quick batch in the food processor. Maybe it’s only a mental thing — making the dough by hand doesn’t really take that much time. To me, making it in the food processor just makes homemade pasta feel more accessible and manageable: an everyday affair instead of something reserved for only special occasions.

Hey, make it by hand or make it in the food processor — either way, you still get fresh pasta for dinner. And that is never a bad thing!

Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Pulse a few times to combine. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Comments

Makes about 1 pound

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

2 cups
all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon
salt
3
large eggs

Equipment

Measuring cups and spoons
Food processor

Instructions

Combine the flour and salt. Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Pulse a few times to combine.
Add the eggs. Crack the eggs on top of the flour.
Process for 30-60 seconds. Put the lid on the food processor and process for 30-60 seconds until the dough comes together into a rough ball.
If dry, add water. If the dough doesn't come together after a minute and looks like small pebbles or cous cous, add a teaspoon of water and process again. Repeat until the dough comes together.
If sticky, add flour. If the dough is sticky and smears against the sides of the bowl, add a tablespoon of flour and process again. Repeat until the dough comes together.
Knead the dough into a smooth ball. Remove the dough from the food processor. Knead against the counter a few times until it comes together into a smooth ball.
Rest the dough for 30 minutes. Dust the dough with a little flour and place it in a small mixing bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Recipe Notes

For instructions on rolling and cutting the dough into pasta, see: HOW TO MAKE FRESH PASTA FROM SCRATCH.

How To Make Fresh Pasta Dough in the Food Processor