| CLASSIC pasta | making garganelli by hand | |||
|
|
Garganelli are generally made using fresh egg pasta. (But it also possible to get the garganelli shape in dry pasta). Two-inch squares of pasta are rolled over a comb to get a tube with ridges. (see more detailed instructions below). They make a wonderful pasta shape, ideal for sauces that are soft or have a cream component. This is one of those. Recipes: penne and garganelli
how to make garganelli (makes about one pound):
In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt and nutmeg. Make a mound of the flour and then make a well in the center. Add the eggs, oil and nutmeg to the well. Using a fork, break up the yolks and then gradually incorporate the flour and the eggs with a circular motion with the fork around the inside of the well. Continue until all the of the eggs are absorbed in the flour. When you can remove the mixed dough in one mass, place it on a floured work surface, and knead, always pushing gently on the flour, until you have a smooth ball of flour that is evenly mixed. Usually about 6 - 10 minutes of good hand-crafted effort to get the right texture. Put a wet towel over the pasta ball and
let it sit for thirty minutes. Divide the dough into four pieces. Take
one of the pieces, leaving the others under the towel to stay moist.
Flatten the dough so that it can go through the pasta machine. Feed the
dough through the widest setting of the machine at least four times,
folding and turning the dough until you have a nice rectangle of flat
dough not quite the width of the machine. Now run the flat sheet through
the machine, one step at a time -- tightening up the width by one notch
each turn. Do not fold the pasta from this point on. Continue through
the setting as far as you can -- at least a 4, maybe a 5 on most
machines. Cut the flat sheet of pasta into two-inch squares. (incorporate the cuttings back into the pasta not yet rolled out). Lay a square diagonally on a comb -- yes, a comb -- so that one corner points to you, the other pointing away from you. Place a smooth dowel or smooth pencil on the dough, parallel to the comb. Take the point of the pasta near you (should be about one-quarter of an inch) and wrap it around the pencil, and then with gentle downward pressure, roll the pencil away from you and off the comb. This gives the pasta its ridges. Stand the pencil vertically and the finished garganelli will slide off. Put them on a dry, clean cloth, not touching! Do the rest of the squares and then repeat for each of the other three rounds of pasta dough. Should be used fresh, as soon as possible. If allowed to dry they tend to crack while cooking. Rather than a comb, there are specific tools for creating the garganelli. There is a wonderful garganelli board available from artisanl pasta tools. See where to buy.
|
|||
