How to make Homemade noodles? Sounds intimidating, doesn’t it? I am here to tell you that making homemade noodles is easier than you think. They are a little time-consuming but once you get the hang of it you will have homemade noodles in no time. I know it is much easier to grab that package of noodles in your pantry, but nothing and I mean nothing tastes as good as homemade noodles.
I have to be honest here. I had never had homemade noodles until after I was married. That was the only way my mother-in-law made noodles. Homemade! I have to admit I was fascinated. Who knew that noodles were made with only 4 ingredients! And the finished product was so good.
How To Make Homemade Noodles
How to make homemade noodles. You only need 4 ingredients and 4 easy steps. Sound easy? It is! And you most likely have all the ingredients on hand so no need to make a run to the grocery store. The ingredients? eggs, salt, flour, and water. That’s it. After you assemble the ingredients there are only 4 steps. Mix, knead, roll and cut. Easy peasy. Honest!
What are noodles? Are they any different than pasta? According to Wikipedia noodles are
Mix
Mixing the ingredients with your hands? Yep. Might get a little messy but using your fingers to incorporate the egg into the flour is really the best way. Add the water a little at a time. Mixing completely before adding any more. Only add enough water to form a ball.
Knead
After mixing the dough until it forms a ball, place the ball on a lightly floured surface and knead until the ball becomes smooth and elastic usually about 10 minutes. The importance of kneading the dough helps with gluten development which aids in the stretchability of the dough.
My wrists have become weak the older I get. So I admit that I usually put my pasta dough into my stand mixer with the dough hook attachment and knead my pasta dough this way.
Also important is to let the dough rest after kneading. Just cover with a towel and let rest for at least 10 minutes. But really 30 minutes is better.
Watch the video below on how to knead pasta dough
Roll
After your pasta dough has rested, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll the dough paper-thin. About 1/8 of an inch. The thinner the dough the thinner your noodles will be. This is up to you. If you prefer a thicker noodle then by all means roll your dough a little thicker. Just one thing to remember tho. The thicker the noodle the longer it will take to cook and the chewier the noodle will be.
After rolling the dough into a rectangle roll the rectangle around the rolling pin and carefully slip the dough out. Be sure that you have plenty of flour on the dough before rolling it around the rolling pin otherwise when it comes to cutting the noodles they will stick together when shaking them out.
Cut
Cut the dough crosswise into 1/8 inch strips for narrower noodles and 1/4 inch strips for wider noodles. Shake out the strips and place them on a towel to dry. I usually just flour my table and cover the noodles with a towel. Once the strips have dried break into smaller pieces.
When it comes to drying the noodles, I have heard stories of people draping their noodles on chairs, and the table. My mother-in-law usually cooked her noodles 10 to 15 minutes after cutting them.
How To Make Homemade Noodles
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup water
Directions For Homemade Noodles
Measure flour into a medium bowl. Make a well in the center and add egg yolks, whole egg, and salt. With your hands, thoroughly mix the egg into the flour. Add water, about a tablespoon at a time mixing thoroughly after each addition. Only add enough water to form dough into a ball.
On a well-floured surface, knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Cover with a towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
Divide the dough into 4 equal parts. Roll dough, 1 part at a time, into a paper-thin rectangle while keeping the other 3 parts covered. Roll rectangle around the rolling pin and slip out the rolling pin.
Cut dough crosswise into desired strips (1/8 inch for narrow noodles and 1/4 inch for wider noodles). Shake out the strips and place them on a towel to dry.
When the noodles strips are dry, break into smaller pieces. Cook in 3 quarts boiling salted water(1 tablespoon) or broth of your choice. If using broth do not add salt as the broth has salt in it. Add salt to taste after cooking the noodles.
Enjoy!
Final Thoughts
I hope that I have helped you get over the intimidation of making homemade noodles. You only need 4 ingredients, eggs, salt, flour, and water. And with 4 easy steps, mix, knead, roll and cut, you will have homemade noodles. Sure it is easy to reach for that package of noodles in your pantry, but homemade tastes so much better.
And if you have a recipe or dish you are wanting to make that calls for noodles and you don’t have any packaged noodles on hand, why not make your own? I found myself in this dilemma when I wanted to make Ham and Noodle Casserole.
My 17-year-old granddaughter has made homemade noodles every year for the past 5 years for Thanksgiving.
Have you made homemade noodles? Please leave me a comment below with your thoughts.
And As Always
Have A Wonderful Day!
Tia. How you doing? I make my dough like yours ..but I never dry my noodles. I roll them out thin. Then roll it into a log and the slice the thin disc And thin unroll the disc and put a little flour them to make sure they are separated. Thin drop them right into boiling broth. I use chicken. Or beef or even deer. They turn out great. But I know yours are just great. I love your doing this page. Look forward to reading your recipes.. love ya.
Hi Joanna, Thank you so much for visiting my site. Much appreciated. I don’t make noodles as often as I use to. I had forgotten how easy they really are to make. When we have our Thanksgiving, my daughter and granddaughter make the noodles. This year Rylea made them by herself. (My 17-year-old granddaughter).