Sourdough Pasta: Making Fermented Pasta Dough
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Homemade sourdough pasta is one of the simplest, yet tastiest ways to enjoy your sourdough starter.
With a subtle tangy sourdough flavor, sourdough pasta is incredibly simple to make - using just 3 ingredients.
You can use this sourdough pasta recipe to make any type of pasta - from fettucine and papardelle to spaghetti or lasagne sheets. It's also perfect for ravioli!
You don't need any specialised equipment, however a stand mixer and pasta machine do make it easier.
You can mix the dough by hand and cut it with a knife if you prefer. I've included instructions for doing it both ways.
This recipe is also suitable for making in a Thermomix and can be loads of fun to make with kids (you'll find my full guide for sourdough baking with kids here)!
Benefits of Sourdough Pasta
Sourdough pasta is not only a great way to use up some sourdough discard, it also has other benefits.
You can use active, bubbly sourdough starter to make this pasta too.
Because you are replacing some of the regular flour in the pasta dough with sourdough starter (whether you use discard or active) you will be getting some of the benefits of a fermented pasta dough.
To truly have a fermented pasta dough, leave the dough covered in the fridge overnight before rolling out and cutting.
My experience with sourdough pasta is that it doesn't leave me feeling bloated and over full. It's lighter and much easier to digest than store bought pasta.
Another thing I love is that it cooks much faster than store bought pasta - there's no waiting around for 11 minutes! Sourdough pasta can be done in as little in 2 minutes (depending on how thick you cut it).
You can see how I use sourdough pasta in our weekly meals in this post - a week of sourdough dinner ideas using sourdough starter. Sourdough pasta goes really well with these sourdough meatballs!
Ingredients
- Sourdough Starter - you can use sourdough discard or active sourdough starter, it doesn't really matter too much for this recipe.
- Bread Flour - I use bread flour to make my pasta, but you can use all purpose flour if you want to. That's the great thing about pasta - it is such a flexible recipe!
- Eggs - I've used fresh eggs from my chickens to create this sourdough pasta. My eggs are approximately 70g each. If yours are smaller, you might need to use 3 eggs instead of 3.
How To Make Sourdough Pasta
Making sourdough pasta could not be easier. You can mix the dough by hand (afterall, pasta was made long before modern mixers, right).
But if you do have a stand mixer or Thermomix, you can most certainly utilise these to make the job much easier.
The dough needs to be kneaded very well, so if you are going to do it by hand, you need to really get your muscles working.
Here's the process for making sourdough pasta dough:
- Measure out the three ingredients - sourdough starter, flour and eggs.
- Add the ingredients to your stand mixer bowl and use the dough hook to bring it together into a dough.
- If you are using a Thermomix, knead the dough for around 3 minutes or until it clumps together.
- Turn the dough out on to a floured surface and work it into a ball.
- Place into a bowl covered with cling wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- If you want to ferment the dough overnight, place it into the fridge.
- If you are going to cut it after the 30 minute rest, leave it on the kitchen counter.
The color of your sourdough pasta dough will depend on the eggs you use. I use pasture raised eggs from my farm so the pasta dough is quite dark in color. It cooks up lighter, but it does looks more yellow in these photos.
Tips for Rolling and Cutting Sourdough Pasta by Hand
You can definitely roll and cut this sourdough pasta by hand.
The trick is to use flour to ensure that the dough is not sticky.
A cool surface is good to stop the dough from getting too soft and tearing.
Simply roll the dough out to your desired thickness using a rolling pin. It can be easier to divide the dough into 4 pieces and roll each piece separately.
This will enable you to get it nice and thin.
To cut into noodles, sprinkle the surface of the dough with flour and gently roll it up. Using a sharp knife, cut the pasta to the desired thickness. Gently unravel the noodles and toss in flour to stop them sticking together.
You can hang them up to dry or just leave them on the counter. Let them dry for around 30 minutes before cooking.
How To Use a Pasta Machine for Sourdough Pasta
I find that a pasta machine is a really easy way to get uniform pasta. It makes it quick and easy to get the pasta dough nice and thin and is also lots of fun for my kids to get involved in.
Most of the time, I don't even need a rolling pin to start the dough off, I just feed balls into the machine and they come out flat!
A few tips to getting the most from your pasta machine:
- Use plenty of flour on the dough before you feed it into the machine. This ensures that the dough will not tear or get stuck.
- If you are making very long sheets or pasta or noodles, it can help to have a second pair of hands to help you feed the dough through the machine and catch the noodles. Otherwise, the extra length can make it a little hard to handle on your own.
- Start the pasta machine at the thicker setting and work down. This will give you better quality pasta at the end.
- For really good pasta, laminate the dough as you go along. So roll it out and then when you feed it back through the machine, fold the dough over itself so it creates layers.
- Be careful when cleaning your pasta machine. Don't use your fingers to loosen dried on pasta underneath. Speaking from experience, the edges of the metal can be really sharp!
- A pasta machine is really handy for making sourdough crackers too! You can roll the dough super thin so you get lovely, crisp sourdough crackers. My absolute favorites are these sourdough rosemary and parmesan crackers.
Sourdough Pasta in Any Shape
You can use sourdough pasta dough to make any shape pasta you can think of!
If you have a pasta machine, you will be able to easily cut thin spaghetti and noodles, fettucine and lasagne sheets.
You will also be able to roll the pasta dough thin enough to make ravioli and tortellini. I use a Russian Pelmeni (little dumpling) cutter to make the cutest sourdough ravioli!
If you are using a mold like this, I roll a long sheet of pasta through the machine and then cut it in half. I join them together so that they form a wide piece of pasta dough and use the rolling pin to flatten the join.
If you are using a rolling pin and cutting by hand, fettucine and papardelle are the easiest shapes to cut.
Flavor Variations for Sourdough Pasta
While plain sourdough pasta is absolutely delicious in its simplicity. However, if you want to try something a little more adventurous, why not try these ideas:
- Add some finely chopped fresh chives or thyme to dough for a fresh, herby twist.
- You can make pink pasta by adding a little beetroot juice, green pasta by adding a little spinach juice.
- Add some saffron to the dough for a deeper yellow color.
- Why not add some delicate flowers from fresh herbs. Rosemary and chive flowers make beautiful additions, as do torn up nasturtium flowers and basil blossoms.
Making Thermomix Sourdough Pasta
The Thermomix makes it super easy to pull this sourdough pasta dough together. It's how I make my dough (unless my kids want to knead it by hand).
You can add all the ingredients to the bowl, then simply set the Thermomix to knead function for 3 minutes. The dough will clump together.
You can tip it onto a floured surface and bring it together into a ball before letting it rest.
For more Thermomix sourdough recipes, head here.
How to Cook Sourdough Pasta
Fresh sourdough pasta is super easy to cook. You'll need a big pot of boiling water that's been salted. Pop the fresh pasta into the boiling water for just a few minutes.
It takes a lot less time than dried, store bought pasta.
Once the pasta has risen to the surface it's generally cooked to perfection. Test a piece to be sure before removing from the water.
I never actually drain the pasta - I use tongs to remove it from the boiling water and put it into the pan of sauce - that way you toss in some of the pasta water, which is essential for a good pasta sauce! I love tossing hot pasta through this easy bread dipping oil - absolute perfection!
How To Store and Freeze
Homemade sourdough pasta can be stored dry or frozen.
If you are going to use it the same day that you make it, you can leave it hanging on the pasta hanging rack until you want to cook it.
To freeze sourdough pasta dough, let the pasta dry for at least an hour before you place it into a ziploc bag and freeze. Try to ensure there isn't too much air in the bag when you seal it.
You can also store fresh pasta in the fridge for up to 2 days. Let it dry for around an hour and then place into a ziploc bag into the fridge. If you need to store it longer than this, place it into the freezer to inhibit bacteria growth.
While it can be dried out completely, the dough does have raw egg so storing in the fridge or freezer would be preferable than just storing it in the pantry in a dried state.
Equipment for Making Sourdough Pasta
You can make this pasta using a rolling pin and a knife. I have done it this way many times.
If you do find you like to make it often though, these things can be a good investment. They will give you a better quality finish and save you time too.
I invested in these because I make sourdough pasta a few times a week and the kids like to get involved too!
Pasta Machine - This pasta machine is so much fun to use and allows you to make super fine spaghetti, fettucine, lasagne and ravioli dough with ease.
Pasta Hanger - This pasta hanger is a great investment. It allows you to dry 3 batches of pasta or noodles at a time. I love that it can be stored away compact. It allows me to dry the pasta up on the counter away from little fingers (for the most part haha).
Pelmeni Cutter/Mold - This fun Pelmeni mold allows you to make hexagonal filled pasta shapes. You can easily make up to 37 at a time. You just roll over it with a rolling pin and then pop them out.
Ravioli Stamps & Cutters - this set of ravioli stamps can make pasta making lots of fun!
Sourdough Pasta
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- Pasta Machine
- Pasta Hanger
Ingredients
- 100 g Sourdough Starter Can be discard or active starter
- 250 g Bread Flour All purpose is fine too
- 2 Eggs
Instructions
- You can make this pasta dough by hand or in a stand mixer or Thermomix.
Making Pasta by Hand
- On a clean counter top, pour out 250g of flour, making a well in the centre.
- Crack the eggs into the centre of flour and then pour the sourdough starter on top of the eggs.
- Using a fork, gently beat the eggs and the sourdough starter together, gradually bringing in some of the flour.
- Once the flour, eggs and sourdough starter are roughly combined into a shaggy dough, knead the pasta by hand until it forms a smooth dough. If the dough is sticky, add a little more flour until you achieve the right consistency.
- Set the dough aside for 30 minutes (or overnight if you want it to be slow fermented pasta).
Making Pasta in a Stand Mixer or Thermomix
- Add the flour, eggs and sourdough starter to the bowl. For Thermomix, use the knead function for 3 minutes until the dough is clumping together.For a stand mixer, use the dough hook and knead the dough on low speed (not more than 2) until the dough forms a smooth ball.
- Turn the dough out on to the counter and gently knead it into a ball.
- Set the dough aside for 30 minutes (or overnight if you want it to be slow fermented pasta).
Rolling & Cutting Sourdough Pasta
- Once the dough has rested for 30 minutes - or overnight - it's time to roll, cut and hang the pasta. If you've had the pasta dough in the fridge, let it come to room temperature as it will be easier to roll.
- You can use a rolling pin or a pasta machine (you'll find detailed instructions for both in the post above).
- Use plenty of flour on the surface of the dough to stop the dough sticking to either the rolling pin or pasta machine.
- Once the dough is cut to the desired shape/length, hang the pasta on a pasta hanger for at least 30 minutes to dry.
Nutrition
Might be a silly question but if I made this into lasagna sheets would I have to cook them before assembling the lasagna, or would they cook enough in the oven? Can’t wait to try this 😊 Thankyou.
Hi Kate,
I’m looking forward to making this! We have 5 people in our family. Will one batch feed us all or should I double the recipe?
My 21 year old son LOVES pasta so he will eat a lot.
Thanks for your help!
Heather
How do you store it after it is dried?
Hi! Approximately how many servings does this make?
Can this be made with an egg substitute? If so, which is recommended?
This came together very easily and made a nice soft, easy to handle dough. Just hanging to dry right now. But of all the homemade pasta recipes I've tried this has been the nicest to work with.
Approximately how much pasta does this recipe make? I know it’s hard to tell, but we are a family of 2 adults and 2 kids.
Do I need to add yeast if using discard?
Could you use flax eggs in place of real eggs to keep it plant-based?
Oh that looks lovely. Any pointers on how long it will keep? Could you leave it in the fridge or dry out completely?
I always hate it when folks try to change a recipe and ask for advice, but wondering if you know if I can use freshly milled whole wheat flour? Either way, I'm going to give it a try. I just store plenty of whole wheat and am always looking for ways that I can use it. Thanks for the in-depth instructions.
I just made this today and I’m gonna let the dough ball ferment overnight. But it struck me that you didn’t use any water in this? Does the dough not become too dense? I used about 150 g of bread flour and for the rest semolina.
Can this recipe be made with 100% semolina flour instead of the bread or AP flour?
Hello I was wondering about how much pasta thus makes
Hello! Do you think that egg replacer would work for the recipe?
Hi! How many servings in one recipe? Thanks!
Can whole wheat flour be used instead of AP?
I have the Emeril Lagasse pasta and beyond machine. It mixes the dough and then extrudes it. Is this recipe something I could eventually put in the machine. I'm thinking maybe after the last rest. Thanks.
Hello, I would like to try making it without the egg, would you have any recommendations on what to substitute the egg with or tried to adjust the recipe to work without it? Thank you!!
Thank you so much for this! I am trying to make Russian Pelemini with sourdough and was having the hardest time finding a recipe. I am so excited to try it!
Great recipe! I used whole wheat starter and the dough came out great. I added a bit water after re-rolling some dough scraps.
Can this be made in the Philips Pasta maker?
Yes you can 🙂
I've searched this page, unless I'm missing it, I don't see how many servings this makes. Wanted to make sure before I make it so I have enough for 4 people. 🙂
Can I use white whole wheat flour in place of bread flour for this recipe?
These were so easy and absolutely delicious in chicken noodle soup! No special equipment, just a rolling pin and pizza cutter
Can semolina flour be used in this recipe?
Will this dough do okay with a pasta extruder?
Looking forward to trying this. How much does this recipe make? I get that it will be different amounts depending on the size cut but just a ball park idea for spaghetti or noodles. Thanks
First time pasta maker and not only was I surprised at the ease and flexibility of this recipe I was amazed at the flavor difference. No store bought pasta for me anymore! I kept the dough in the fridge for 24 hours to enhance the flavor. Some how in my excitement I forgot to add extra flour to prevent sticking (newbie mistake) so I had a few problems.
I highly recommend this recipe, as in all Pantry Mama’s recipe. Thank you PM for making us all better chefs!
Makes me weak in the knees thinking of all the boxed pasta I’ve used when I could have been making fresh pasta. This recipe is very good and easy. It truly elevates a simple meal to very good.
Made meat raviolis and the dough was perfectly supple enough to work with
Have you tried using different flours or a combination of different ones? Semolina and 00 flour are what came to mind, but I'm just getting into making pasta, so I'm really just regurgitating something I saw somewhere else.
I made ravioli with this recipe and it turned out great! Two things I noticed: 1) it's best not to let the pasta sheets lay out for too long to avoid drying out (results in cracking/seams not adhering to each other), 2) flour whatever surface you're putting the ravioli on before cooking, otherwise they're prone to sticking and ruining all your hard work.
Thanks!
Hello! Thank you for all of the hours you have spent making this the best site for everything sourdough. I would like to try to make sourdough pasta, but I am allergic to egg. Is it possible to substitute the eggs in this recipe and if so, what would be the equivalent? Thank you!
I’m Excited to make lasagna!! Do I need to dry it as well?
I received my pasta maker on
Monday! Lasagna is on the menu tomorrow once I get the tomatoes to make the sauce.
YUM! You don't need to dry it, no it's fine to use it as is for lasagne 🙂
Can this be dried for long term storage?
Haven't made it yet, but this is the first time I've seen a pasta recipe with sourdough discard. My problem is that it will have to be gluten free, so I'm thinking rice and sorghum. But for trying to keep it not too dry, could I use oil instead of flour when rolling and to avoid the pasta sticking to the surface when rolling? It is what I do with my gluten free sourdough bread, though this may be a bit more fragile
My husband and I have made this recipe quite a few times. It is great! We use our pasta maker, but we have not hanged the pasta for 30 minutes. Just a question as we have a pasta sauce recipe that asks for "al dente" noodles. If we hang the pasta and let it dry, I am guessing that will allow us to cook it "al dente"?
Hi! If I’m putting it in the fridge, do I wrap it in plastic wrap or put it in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap? Also I really cannot figure out what you mean by laminating it when you mention to fold it when putting it back through the machine. Would you mind elaborating on this for me or do you have a video I can reference?
I made this last Sunday. I actually made a double recipe. I used a pasta flour blend made of durum wheat flour, and semolina flour. The dough was soft, pliable, easy to handle and made spectacular spaghetti for that same night. The rest of the pasta went in the fridge, wrapped, in 8oz portions. We ate them in a ramen recipe 2-3 days later and boy were they spectacular! The chewiness, the depth of flavor! Perfect ramen noodle. When I make this again I will let them rest in the fridge a few days. Thank you for another amazing discard recipe!
I doubled the recipe and the dough is really tough - not pliable at all. Wondering why this might be?
Quick question... if doing a slow over night ferment do you leave it on the counter or in the fridge?
In the fridge 🙂
Great recipe! 🙂 I think my dough is a little drier than yours - might be due to the egg size? How many grams was each of your eggs (out of shell?) thank you!!!
I think mine are around 60g although we have our own chickens so some can be around 80g depending on which chook it came from 🙂 Just add a little water if the dough is dry 🙂
If we freeze the pasta, do we need to thaw it before cooking it, or can we add the frozen noodles to the boiling water? Is it the same amount of cooking time?
Does the sourdough pasta puff up at all when cooked? I presume the boiling process would quickly kill off the yeast and, therefore, not puff/rise at all. Thanks!
How well does this work for extruded pasta? I've found with non-fermented hollow noodles that the dough needs to be almost crumbly (i.e., a high proportion of flour) for the pasta to be firm enough to survive the boiling step - or even dried before cooking - at least when using the KA attachment. Maybe the consistency of fermented dough is different - ?
Just wondering if I could substitute the bread, flour for fresh milled flour?
Love this recipe! Maybe I missed this part, if I were to freeze the noodles, what’s the process afterwards? Can they go straight into boiling water or do they need to defrost?
Thank you
How many servings does this make?
Hello! Just wondering in terms of nutrition facts how many servings this is? Thank you! I tried it tonight and it came out DELICIOUS! I love your recipes!
Can we replace bread/all purpose for Italian 00 flour at same proportion?
How many servings does this make?
Have you ever added plant protein powder to the recipe? If so, would I supplement the powder for some of the flour?
Super easy, tasted amazing! My dough was slightly dry and was difficult to knead. I added a tbsp of olive oil and a little water and it was perfect.
Once the pasta is dry how do you store it and how long will it last?
Can the dough be stored in fridge longer than overnight or frozen? Before rolling and cutting?
Can Semolina flour be used?
How many servings does one batch make?
4 servings
Made this twice. Both times I found the dough to be a bit on the dry side... Any recommendations on the egg weight in grams?? Pasta was really good the first time, rolling it out tomorrow for the 2nd time!
How many servings does this make?
How long can the fermented sourdough pasta remain in the fridge without being rolled out?
Would you change the amount of flour or liquid if using fresh milled flour?
Thank you for sharing your recipes with us! I have been making so many great things.
Loved this recipe! I used a food processor for the dough, then rolling pin and hand cut. We did the over night ferment. It made so much, I checked back and re read, was very happy to see the freezer section. Thank you for the great info!!
I made these two times in 4 days because the noodles are so delicious. The first batch was a little too thick (hand rolled) so the cook time was longer. These are by far the easiest ever and I always look for ways to use my starter. This recipe goes into my frequently used file! Thank you.
Should we add some salt?
Great recipe. I doubled for a family lasagna but didn’t need to in the end… so froze the rest of the sheets. Worked nicely in the lasagna and definitely gentler on the tummy compared to whole wheat pasta. Thanks!
I love this recipe, I am looking for a sourdough recipe that also includes fresh spinach, not just the juice. Any ideas? Ive thought maybe make the recipe, add the spinach then compensate with additional flour for the added liquid.
Thoughts? 😀
We haven't tried it, but I bet it would work! I would chop the spinach as fine as possible. Please let us know if you try it.
I tried this last night and it seemed to work out just like it said! I was planning on having it for dinner tonight so I let them dry on the counter in Tupperware. When I woke up this morning, the pasta had rose and now is one huge piece. Can I work it again into pieces or is it trash? What can I do in the future?
If you are drying them, you don't want to put them in tupperware as this won't allow the moisture to escape 🙂 I find it's best to make the pasta, allow to dry for a bit on the counter and then store in the fridge or freezer before using to ensure the yeast don't take over.
My husband and I have leveled up in life by making this tonight. After letting rest in the fridge overnight, we made some fettuccine and the texture was perfect after boiling 10 minutes. I will be using this recipe very frequently now. 👌
I absolutely LOVE making fettuccini noodles with this recipe! It’s so easy and absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing your secrets on making such amazing noodles. Can’t wait to venture into lasagna & more!
Please let us know what you try next, Katie! So glad you love this recipe. Thank you so much for your review. 🙂
I made a batch a couple days ago ... didn't get to it until day. It actually rose quite a bit in the fridge, so I thought I over proofed it. But went for it anyway, and it turned out amazing! Nuttin' but fresh pasta from now on. Really is delicious and so easy! Thank you for the recipe!
We love to hear that, Susan! So happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for your review. 🙂