How to shape your own cavatelli and fettuccine

how to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threads
If there’s one thing that prevented us from making our own pasta in the past, it was the (totally misguided) feeling that we wouldn’t be able to do it without going out and spending a whole bunch of money on that KitchenAid attachment everyone seems to have. When push came to shove, we never could justify the cost (sort of like the ice cream maker I’m dying to buy…), no matter how much we wanted it.

We went way too long before we realized how silly it was to hang all of our pasta dreams on a silly piece of equipment — in reality, it’s easy to make pasta with nothing more than your own hands.

… and some pretty killer pasta, at that.

The attachment is still on the wish list, of course. But now, at least we know we can get by without it. And we definitely do.

Here’s how…

how to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threadshow to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threads
Cavatelli

Supplies:
Handmade pasta (see step one here)
Cutting board or other flat surface
Bench scraper
Sushi mat or cavatelli board (optional)
Semolina flour

1 // After letting your pasta rest (see step one here), cut a piece of your pasta off the ball you’ve formed and roll it between your hands.

how to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threadshow to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threads
2 // Continue to roll pasta on your cutting board until you have a long thin piece. Use your bench scraper to cut 1/4-1/2″ pieces from your roll, depending on thickness. (This will become more clear as you move to the next step.)

how to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threadshow to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threads
3 // Shape each small piece by first pressing down flat on your cutting board or sushi mat (the sushi mat or cavatelli board gives your pasta a little ridge, but it’s not at all required.)

4 // After pressing your piece down flat, roll it so that it forms a shape similar to a hot dog bun (I think they look like little potato bugs…).

how to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threads

5 // Place each piece to the side and dust with a bit of semolina flour.

6 // Let dry for 20 minutes prior to cooking.

how to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threads
Fettuccine

Supplies:
Handmade pasta (see step one here)
Cutting board or other flat surface
Rolling pin (long, like ours from Relish Decor, or short — both work)
Long knife or pizza cutter
Semolina flour

1 // Begin the same way you would for cavatelli. After letting your pasta rest (see step one here), cut a piece of your pasta off the ball you’ve formed and roll it between your hands for just a moment.

2 // Then, begin to roll your piece with your rolling pin, until you have a very long flat piece.

3 // Cut this piece in two and continue to roll. You should end with two very flat pieces about the length of the pasta you’d like to make.

how to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threads
4 // Using your knife or pizza cutter, trim the edges of each piece until you have a rough rectangle (it doesn’t have to be perfect).

5 // Then, easy as pie, cut each piece to the width you’d like (fettuccine can vary somewhat). Don’t worry too much about perfect straight lines. As long as you keep your lines relatively straight, when it’s pulled apart your pasta will look much more perfect that you think.

how to shape cavatelli and fettuccine // a thousand threads
6 // Dust with semolina flour and hang your finished fettuccine on a rolling pin to dry (we hung our pin between two chairs… very fancy stuff).

7 // Let dry for 20 minutes prior to cooking.

P.S. For step one, click here.

3 Comments

  1. WordPress › Error

    There has been a critical error on your website.

    Learn more about debugging in WordPress.