BEIJOS EATS | APRIL 3, 2024
its not about the pasta Lala.
I’m still trying to figure out what it is about the beginning of spring, but I’m so excited to do all the fresh baking, make recipes from scratch, and prepare those dishes that take time and love. Maybe it’s the warm sunshine, the fresh spring breeze coming through the windows, or just the fact that it’s not pouring rain anymore. It just gives me that little pep in my step. One of my absolute favorite spring dishes is this edible flower and herb fresh pasta. If you haven’t tried making fresh pasta, you should totally give it a go. Once you’ve had it this way, you won’t be able to resist those oh-so-convenient dried pasta boxes. Light and airy egg noodle pasta layered with fresh herbs like parsley, tarragon, and basil. Sprinkled with colorful edible flowers, a hint of fresh citrus, and finished off with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Make it for yourself, or make a big batch for everyone to enjoy all spring long.
*photography by Dayna Studios
I recently got a pasta maker for Christmas, which makes this recipe super easy, but you can make it by hand. All you need is fresh pasta sheets, herbs, and edible flowers. Think of it like making a sandwich. The pasta sheets are your bread, and the herbs and flowers are your PB&J. Roll them together to stick the two sheets and cut into whatever size you like. You can also use a pasta roller if you have one. Fresh pasta made with love by your hands will look rustic, and that’s the best part.
After cooking it, sprinkle some olive oil, finishing salt, herbs, and edible flowers on top. I also like to zest some fresh lemon and orange on top, as it brings out those spring flavors. You can also add some pesto and grated cheese. You can even toss some spring steamed veggies or a burrata ball for a different flavor. The options are endless!
SHOP PASTA GOODIES BELOW
Fresh Garden Spring Pasta for Two
What Ya Need
Ingredients
- 275 g 00 pasta flour or semolina flour plain flour is fine if you don’t have either of those
- 3 large eggs
- A pinch of salt
- Water
- Edible Flowers
- Fresh Herbs
Garnish
- Edible Flowers
- Lemon and Orange Zest
- Olive Oil
- Finishing salt
Instructions
- How to make lasagne sheets by hand:
- Place your flour onto a work surface. Make a well in the centre, crack your eggs into the well and add in the salt.
- Use a fork to beat the eggs. Slowly incorporate the surrounding flour, to produce the dough.
- Use a scraper to bring in the remaining flour. Pull it towards the centre into the dough. If the dough is too stiff all you need to do is add water. Add it one tablespoon at a time as needed.
- Once the dough forms a ball, knead for about 10 minutes. Knead until it becomes smooth and soft.
- Shape your dough into a ball and place it in a bowl. Cover the bowl with cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Divide the dough into three equal portions. Use a rolling pin to flatten your dough, turning it regularly, until it reaches a thickness of 1mm.
- Use a pastry knife to cut out rectangular sheets. The best part about making homemade lasagne sheets is the opportunity to cut them to the shape and size of your chosen dish.
- Air dry for about 30 minutes. Place your sheets onto a clean, floured cloth to dry.
How to make lasagne sheets with a pasta machine:
- Follow steps 1 – 5 above.Divide the dough into three equal portions. Dust the dough with flour and pass it through the pasta machine.Dust with more flour, fold and pass it through the machine again. Continue passing the dough though the machine until it’s smooth, even in size, and no longer sticky.Adjust the pasta machine setting. Repeat the above two steps until your dough is a long strip of the required thickness.Cut the long strip into sheets. Fit them to your baking dish.Place your sheets on a floured cloth. Air dry for 30 min.Tip: You can make the process of making lasagne sheets from scratch easier for yourself with a high-quality pasta maker that does the hard work for you. The Philips Pasta and Noodle Maker mixes, kneads, and extrudes dough to your preferred shape automatically in as little as 10 minutes. Better yet, you can easily personalise it with different flours, oils, and seasonings for added flavour.
