Enjoy a vibrant twist on traditional pasta with this beet-infused variation, crafted with just two simple ingredients: semolina flour and fresh spinach puree. This delightful pasta boasts a striking green hue and a subtle earthy sweetness, making it both visually appealing and deliciously unique. Perfect for pairing with light sauces or simply tossed in a tiny bit of olive oil and lots of fresh herbs, spinach pasta offers a nutritious twist to your pasta repertoire, rich in fiber and packed with natural goodness.
Puree spinach with its liquids in a high-speed blender.
Mix the flour and salt in a bowl. Mound the flour onto a board (or shallow bowl). Make a well in the center; add the spinach mixture. Using a fork, mix everything together, gradually incorporating the flour as you go.
Finish by hand to form a cohesive dough. Depending on how wet your beet puree is you may need to add more water (1 teaspoon at at time) or flour (1 tablespoon at at time) to a form a cohesive dough.
Cover and let rest for 10 minutes before kneading (I use an upturned bowl for this). The dough will be softer and easier to work with.
Knead the dough for 5-7 minutes. Do this by pushing the dough forward with the heel of your hand while rocking the dough back and forth. The goal is a soft, malleable dough. Poke it when you’re done- it should bounce back.
Shape into a ball, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. The next step is to roll and cut the dough. Divide the dough into 6 or 8 portions. (If you don't have a helper, I suggest dividing the dough into 10 pieces to make working and rolling it easier.)
Working with the first piece (keep remaining pieces covered with plastic wrap), flatten it into a rectangular shape.
Pasta Rolling Machine
If using a pasta rolling machine, start with one of the shorter sides of the rectangle, feed it through the rollers. Once the dough has come out of the other end, fold one side of the piece into the middle, then fold the other side over that to form three layers, as if you're folding a business letter, pressing lightly on the top of the piece of dough to seal it.
Begin by feeding the folded dough through the pasta machine at the widest setting. Fold and roll the dough five times at this setting. Afterward, start thinning the dough by turning the dial to the next narrowest setting (e.g., #2) and rolling it through, ideally with a helper to guide and catch the dough.
Continue rolling without folding, progressively narrowing the settings until the desired thinness is achieved (usually 3–4 settings from the thinnest). If the pasta sheet becomes too long, cut it in half to maintain manageable lengths.
Attach the noodle-cutting attachment and feed the thin sheets through, catching the noodles as they emerge. Repeat the process for all remaining dough pieces.
Chef's Knife and Rolling Pin
Roll out your pasta dough into a thin, even sheet on a lightly floured surface. Aim for a thickness of about 1/16 inch (1-2 millimeters), depending on your desired pasta type. Keep the dough as rectangular as possible for uniform cuts.
Lightly sprinkle flour over the surface of the rolled-out dough to prevent sticking during cutting. Fold the sheet loosely into thirds or quarters like an accordion, ensuring it doesn’t crease too tightly. This helps with even cutting and saves space.
Using a sharp chef’s knife, slice the folded dough into strips of your desired width. For fettuccine, cut approximately 1/4-inch wide; for tagliatelle, aim for 1/3-inch. You can also cut thinner strips for spaghetti or wider ones for pappardelle.
Carefully unfold the cut strips of pasta and toss them lightly in flour to prevent sticking. Arrange them in small nests or lay them flat on a floured surface until ready to cook..
Cooking Fresh Pasta
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil. Add a generous amount of salt (about 1-2 tablespoons for every gallon of water) to season the pasta.
While the water is heating, separate the fresh pasta strands or pieces, lightly dusting them with flour to prevent sticking.
Gently drop the fresh pasta into the boiling water, stirring immediately to prevent clumping. Fresh pasta cooks quickly, typically in 1-3 minutes. Look for the pasta to float and become tender yet slightly firm (al dente).
Test a piece of pasta for doneness. If it's ready, quickly remove it from the water to avoid overcooking.Use a slotted spoon or pasta strainer to drain the pasta, reserving a cup of pasta water if you plan to use it to thin your sauce. Toss the cooked pasta with your desired sauce immediately and serve hot.
Fresh pasta is delicate, so handle it gently during cooking and mixing with sauce to preserve its texture.