Homemade cavatelli pasta is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to use up leftover vegetables and cheese, and it can be served with a variety of sauces. Cavatelli is a type of pasta that is made from a dough that is rolled out and cut into small, shell-shaped pieces. The pasta is then boiled in water until it is cooked through. Cavatelli can be served with a variety of sauces, including tomato sauce, pesto, or Alfredo sauce. It can also be used in soups and stews.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
HOMEMADE CAVATELLI PASTA DOUGH RECIPE
Learn how to make this Homemade Cavatelli Pasta Dough Recipe & enjoy simple, rustic casalinga-style pasta with your favorite sauce.
Provided by Maria Vannelli RD
Categories Main
Time 3h5m
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Place the sifted flour on a wooden board and make a well in the center.
- Add the water and the salt in the center of the well.
- With a fork, start incorporating the flour and the water until you get a thick batter. Pull in the flour from the bottom of the well.
- With the help of a dough scraper, incorporate the rest of the flour (it may appear to you that there isn't enough water...just keep kneading...magically everything comes together).
- Knead for about 8-10 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. If the dough feels sticky, add a little bit of flour. If, on the other hand, the dough feels dry, sprinkle a few drops of water over the dough and continue kneading.
- Wrap dough in cling wrap and let it rest for about one hour at room temperature (I will usually place a tea towel over the top).
- Cut the dough into 4 pieces.
- Roll out each piece of dough to approximately ¼ inch thick. Make sure your board and rolling pin are floured.
- Cut the into ¾ - 1 inch strips.
- Cut each strip into 1/4 - 1/2 inch rectangular pieces.
- Using the index finger, apply a gentle pressure on the dough, dragging it toward you. There should be a slight curl that forms.
- Place cavatelli on large baking sheets that have been dusted with flour. Place the cavatelli in a single layer and not touching one another.
- Continue until all the dough has been formed into cavatelli.
- Allow to air dry for at least 30 minutes.
- If using immediately, drop in a large pot of salted boiling water for a few minutes. The cavatelli are done when they float to the top. (Try to shake off as much as the flour as possible before boiling them). Taste to make sure they are cooked to your liking.
- If freezing, place the tray of cavatelli in the freezer and once frozen, place in plastic bag in the freezer. Can be cooked frozen. (Should take 6-8 minutes to cook. Once they rise to the top, they should be done. Taste to make sure they are cookedto your liking).
- Serve with your favorite sauce.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 303 kcal, Carbohydrate 63 g, Protein 8 g, Sodium 392 mg, Fiber 2 g
HOMEMADE CAVATELLI PASTA
Cavatelli is a typical Southern Italian pasta made out of just durum wheat semolina flour and water. The starch contained in the durum gives this pasta its distinctive and firm texture, perfect to go with a simple tomato sauce or with a rich Bolognese. Make sure to use a very fine semolina (called durum or semola rimacinata) or the dough will be too stiff.
Provided by Bernadette
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Mix semolina flour and salt in a large bowl or on a marble work surface. Make a well in the center.
- Pour water into the well a little at a time, mixing it with the flour. Add as much water as needed to make a sticky but compact dough.
- Knead dough with your hands by flattening the ball, stretching it, and folding the top towards the center. Turn 45 degrees and repeat until dough is elastic and smooth, but not too soft, about 10 minutes.
- Shape dough into a ball. Place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes before using. If you are using the cavatelli within a few hours or the following day, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator.
- Work with one portion of the dough at a time, keeping the remaining dough covered to keep it from drying out. Dust a work surface with semolina flour; roll out the dough to make a rope, about 1/3 inch thick.
- Cut off little 1/3-inch-thick pieces. Press and gently drag the small piece of dough towards you with your index and middle finger. The two sides will curl inwards, leaving hollow spaces.
- Proceed the same way with the rest of the dough. Transfer cavatelli to a floured surface and sprinkle with more semolina flour. Do not overlap cavatelli or they will stick together. Let dry for about 30 minutes before cooking.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 338.2 calories, Carbohydrate 68.4 g, Fat 1 g, Fiber 3.7 g, Protein 11.9 g, SaturatedFat 0.1 g, Sodium 41.5 mg, Sugar 1.7 g
HOMEMADE CAVATELLI IN 3 EASY STEPS
Learn how to make delicious cavatelli pasta at home in 3 simple steps.
Provided by Italian Recipe Book
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Measure and sieve both flours and mound it on your kitchen worktop (preferably wooden).
- Using your hands, scoop out the center of your mound. Add water and extra virgin olive oil in the center.
- First with a fork then with your hands start to pull in flour to combine ingredients and form the dough.
- Knead for a 5-10 minutes until soft and smooth. Cover with a plastic wrap or a linen towel tucking the edges. Let rest for 10-15 minutes on the counter top to let the dough gain elasticity.
- Using a dough scraper cut off a piece from the dough ball.Roll it into a rope a bit more than ⅓ inch in diameter.Dust the work surface and the dough with some flour.
- Cut the rope into ⅓ inch "pillows".
- Using your index and middle finger press on the "pillow" curling it towards you.
- That's it!If the dough pieces start to stick to your finger, dust cavatelli with some more flour.
- Repeat the process with the rest of the dough.
CAVATELLI PASTA
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cook pasta until al dente in a pot of boiling, salted water.
- Heat the marinara sauce in a large saucepan. Reserve about 1 1/2 cups of the sauce. Set aside about 1 tablespoon of the Parmesan. To the sauce, add the ricotta and remaining Parmesan and stir well. Cook over medium heat, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Add the cooked pasta and the butter and toss well. Top with the reserved marinara and mozzarella and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Garnish with fresh basil.
RICOTTA CAVATELLI
Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 2h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Combine the ricotta, eggs and salt in a large bowl, then stir into the flour. Gently combine with your hands to bring together into a dough. Knead the dough together, adding additional flour until the dough is firm and not sticky. Tightly wrap in plastic and rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
- Cut the dough into quarters. Working with one quarter at a time, roll the dough on a lightly-floured surface into a 1/4-inch-thick rope. With a knife, cut the rope into 1/2-inch pieces. Use a bench scraper or your index and third fingers held together to gently press down on each piece, beginning at the top and moving down toward the bottom, dragging the bench scraper toward you and causing the pasta to roll over on itself. Transfer the formed pasta to a lightly-floured baking sheet and let dry at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. (At this point, the pasta can be frozen in a single layer and stored in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer.)
- Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until the cavatelli are al dente and begin to float to the top, 3 to 5 minutes.
HOMEMADE CAVATELLI
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Cuisine-Inspired Recipes Italian Recipes
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Mix together flours and salt on a clean surface, make a well in center, and gradually add 1/2 cup water and oil, working flours into center until a dough forms. (If dough is too dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time.) Knead dough until smooth and it springs back when gently pressed, about 5 minutes. Wrap in plastic.
- Sprinkle 2 rimmed baking sheets with semolina flour. Divide dough into 8 pieces; keep covered with plastic wrap. Roll one piece at a time into a long rope, about 1/3 inch in diameter, then cut rope into 1/3-inch-long pieces. Using tips of index and middle fingers, firmly press each piece and pull dough toward you so it lengthens slightly and forms a curl in the middle. Transfer pieces to baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Cavatelli can be refrigerated, covered, up to 4 hours. (Or freeze on sheet; once firm, transfer to a resealable bag and freeze up to 3 months. There's no need to thaw before cooking.)
POTATO CAVATELLI
These are an easy, homey version of handmade pasta that freeze well. They are sturdier and more toothsome than gnocchi but have more character than dried cavatelli. It takes a little practice to get the flip of the indentation just right, but once you get the feel for it you can turn out enough for dinner quickly. They hold up well under a heavy tomato ragù, but also take well to a simple sauce of butter, a little pasta water and Parmesan or pecorino. This recipe is easy to double, too, which leaves plenty to freeze for another night. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet dusted in flour, then store in a zippered plastic bag.
Provided by Kim Severson
Categories dinner, lunch, dumplings, pastas, appetizer, main course
Time 45m
Yield 6 servings as a first course, 4 as a main course
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Boil potatoes unpeeled and send through a ricer to make 2 cups. Alternately, peel and boil, then mash. Mix in butter and milk. Let cool.
- In a sturdy bowl, using a stand mixer with a dough hook, or a wooden spoon or your hands, mix potatoes, oil, salt and eggs until smooth. Work in 2 cups flour, gradually adding more until dough is stiff and not sticky. (The amount of flour needed can vary greatly.)
- Pinch off a ball of dough, roll into a rope about an inch in diameter and cut into 3/4-inch dumplings. On a floured surface, press your thumb against the cut side of each dumpling and press down and away, so the dough flattens and flips up over your thumb. The result should look like a miniature hot dog bun.
- In boiling salted water, cook cavatelli, stirring once or twice as soon as you put them in, for about 5 minutes or until they rise to the top. Alternately, put them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then store in the freezer in a plastic bag. Dumplings will take about 10 to 12 minutes to cook. Top with tomato sauce, pesto or butter and Parmesan.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 469, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 71 grams, Fat 15 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 13 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 366 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Flour Choice: Use finely milled "00" flour for a smooth and tender pasta dough. It's the finest quality of durum wheat flour, commonly used in Italian pasta making.
- Water Temperature: Lukewarm water (around 105-115°F) helps activate the yeast and promotes gluten development, resulting in a more elastic and flavorful dough.
- Dough Consistency: Aim for a dough that is slightly sticky but not too wet. It should come together easily and form a soft, cohesive ball.
- Kneading: Knead the dough for at least 10 minutes by hand or 5-7 minutes using a stand mixer. This develops the gluten and gives the pasta its characteristic texture.
- Resting: Allow the dough to rest for at least 30 minutes, covered in plastic wrap. This allows the dough to relax and become more pliable, making it easier to work with.
- Rolling: Roll out the dough into thin sheets, approximately 1/8-inch thick. Use a pasta machine or a rolling pin to achieve the desired thickness.
- Cutting: Traditionally, cavatelli is cut using a cavatelli board, but a sharp knife can also be used. Simply cut the dough into small pieces, about 1-inch long.
- Cooking: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the cavatelli for 2-3 minutes, or until they float to the surface. Drain and serve immediately with your favorite sauce.
Conclusion:
Homemade cavatelli pasta offers a delightful combination of texture and flavor that elevates any pasta dish. The key to success lies in using the right ingredients, following the steps carefully, and taking your time to craft each piece of pasta. With a little practice, you'll be rewarded with delicious, homemade cavatelli that will impress your family and friends. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and embark on a culinary journey that celebrates the art of pasta making.
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