Salt
claim oil results in a smoother, softer dough. It’s not a necessary ingredient. However, if you find your dough is slightly on the dry side, add a teaspoon of oil and thoroughly work it in to see if you prefer those results.
Salt is a controversial ingredient in pasta. Many modern and online recipes call for it. Many traditional home cooks don’t add it to their dough. Some say it makes the dough slightly tougher to knead. Others argue it’s essential to the flavor. The truth is, you’ll use salt at some point in the process. If you prefer to put it into your dough, lighten up on the amount you put into your water when you boil your pasta. On the other hand, if you make your dough sans salt, heavily salt your water to add flavor. As we mentioned before, pasta water is the perfect addition to finish your sauce because of the starch and salt. However, if your water is very salty, the taste can throw your sauce out of balance.
Tools for Pasta-Making
Making pasta is an ancient art. However, modern tools make the job easier. With that in mind, you can get by with nothing more than a rolling pin, or you can stock your kitchen with accessories. Handy tools to start with include:
Plastic or metal scraper
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Rolling pin
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Manual pasta roller or KitchenAid attachment
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Oil or No Oil
Pasta cutters or attachments
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This is another contentious topic in the realm of Italian cooking. Most traditional pasta recipes do not call for oil. However, some modern chefs
Pasta spoon
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13
August 2025
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