FRESH PASTA IN THE FOOD PROCESSOR

Steps:

• 1. Put flour, egg, oil and salt in the food processor and process to a loose, grainy consistency. If it is a little sticky at this point, don't worry. You will just use less water.
• 2. With the processor running, add water 1 teaspoon at a time until the dough forms a single ball beside the central column of the processor. If you overshoot, add a little flour.
• 3. Remove the ball of dough from the food processor, fold it on itself a couple of times and form it into a ball.
• 4. Cover with a damp towel and let rest for 20 to 30 minutes to relax the gluten. If you cannot shape it immediately, wrap it very tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Bring back to room temperature before shaping.
• 5. Shape with your hands, a rolling pin, a pasta roller, or the like into the desired shapes. You will probably need to dust the dough with flour to work with it.
• 6. Toss the raw pasta in flour (optionally, mixed with a bit of cornmeal) to prevent sticking and use immediately or freeze. To protect complex shapes, freeze first on a cookie sheet and then toss in a bag.
• 7. To cook the pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Shake any loose flour off the pasta a place in the boiling water. If you have frozen the pasta, do not defrost it but put in the boiling water while still frozen. Fresh pasta cooks in about 2 minutes, depending on its thickness. Do not overcook. Sauce it as you would any other pasta.
• 8. A NOTE TO NEWBIES: If this is your first time making pasta, consider making plain pasta. Flavored pasta doughs tend to be a bit harder to work with than plain. Any flavoring that contains water (e.g. vegetables) will probably require that you add more flour. Sharp seeds like caraway will want to tear the pasta.
• 9. TO MAKE SPINACH PASTA (updated 3/24/17): Before adding the eggs and oil, process fresh spinach with the flour. Then continue as before, adding water or flour until the dough forms a ball. Since spinach is predominantly water, you will need less water than for plain pasta. To use bagged, pre-washed spinach, cook as indicated on bag then wring out by pressing against the side of a sieve or colander. To use frozen chopped spinach, drain and wring out in a towel as much water as you can.
• 10. TO MAKE OLIVE PASTA: Pit about 20 medium oil-cured, calamata, or other olives and add to the flour and egg in the food processor. Omit salt for all types of olives. Omit olive oil for oil-cured olives. Compensate for the saltiness of this pasta in the final dish, e.g. don't use this pasta with a salty ham. This pasta is good mixed with other pastas for multi-colored pasta dishes.
• 11. TO MAKE OTHER FLAVORED PASTAS: Add flavoring during the process of making the dough and adjust water and flour amounts as necessary. Possibilities include any green leafy herb (parsley, basil, etc.), spices (e.g. pepper), a vegetable paste (tomato, olive, etc.), vegetable juice (instead of water, e.g. beet juice for pink pasta), and so on.
• 12. FLOURS TO USE FOR PASTA: Pasta can be made with almost any flour. Finely ground durum flour is used in Italy and makes delicious pasta. American "semolina flour" is often more coursely grained but can add flavor and texture to a pasta made with it mixed with other flour. Whole wheat pasta can be made with either 100% whole wheat or a mixture of whole wheat and white flour. It will take proportionately more water than white flour pasta. Rye noodles can be made using rye flour but note that, as rye does not make gluten, these noodles will be more fragile and the dough will feel gummy. These are probably best rolled by hand rather than in a pasta roller. (Updated 3/24/17) Using bread flour, with its increased gluten, makes a slightly stronger, more elastic pasta great for ravioli and other applications where strength is needed, such as very fine angel hair pasta.