Spinach pasta dough
Emerald green, at once earthy and elegant, spinach pasta is a staple in Italy, particularly in Emilia Romagna, where it is used in the region’s most renowned dish, Lasagne Verde alla Bolognese.
Portions: Makes about 1 lb-455g
Ingredients:
- 9 oz-255 g fresh baby spinach leaves
- 2 extra large eggs
- 2 to 2 1/4 cups-255 to 285 g 00 flour or unbleached all purpose plain flour
- 2 tbsp semolina flour, plus more for dusting the work surface
- 3/4 tsp fine sea salt
- Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Preparation:
Pour 1 to 2 tbsp of water into a pot over medium high heat. Add the spinach, cover, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until wilted and tender. Drain the spinach in a colander set in the sink. When it is cool enough to handle, use your hands to
squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Put the spinach and 1 egg in a food processor. Process to a smooth puree. Scoop
the spinach mixture into a bowl. Wash and dry the work bowl and blade of the food processor and reassemble the processor. Put 2 cups/255 g “00” flour, the 2 tbsp semolina flour, salt, and nutmeg in the food processor and pulse briefly to combine. Add the spinach mixture and the remaining egg and pulse until the mixture forms crumbs that look like small curds. Pinch together a bit of the mixture and roll it around. It should form a soft ball. If the mixture seems dry, drizzle in a few droplets of water and pulse briefly. If the mixture seems too wet and sticky, add additional flour, 1 tbsp at a time, and pulse briefly. Turn the mixture out onto a clean work surface sprinkled lightly with semolina flour
and press it together with your hands to form a rough ball. Knead the dough: Using the palm of your hand, push the dough gently but firmly away from you, and then fold it over toward you. Rotate the dough a quarter turn, and repeat the pushing and folding motion. Continue kneading for several minutes until the dough is smooth and silky. Form it into a ball and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap/cling film. Let the dough rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.
