Best-Ever Gluten-Free Pasta

Name: Best-Ever Gluten-Free Pasta
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 2 1/3 c. gluten-free flour, such as Cup4Cup; 2 tsp. xanthan gum; 1 tsp. kosher salt; 5 large eggs

By Lena AbrahamUpdated: Nov 21, 2018

Approved by the Delish Test Kitchen

4.2

14 Ratings

Parker Feierbach

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Yields:

Prep Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

30 mins

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Yes, it's TRUE! You can make amazing gluten-free pasta from scratch, and it's not even hard! Below, check out our FAQs, then go forward and make the greatest GF pasta of all time.

What kind of gluten-free flour should I use?

We're partial to Cup4Cup, but feel free to go with your favorite. Whatever it is, just makes sure it's a complete flour substitute. (That means that you can sub it in for normal flour in any given recipe without adjusting any of the ingredients.) Most flours like this are a blend of rice flour, tapioca flour, cornstarch, and a few other ingredients, and have a completely neutral taste.

What does the xanthan gum do?

Xanthan gum plays a crucial role in this, and many other, gluten-free recipes. Made by mixing fermented sugars, it's used as a stabilizer in many foods. In this case, it subs in for gluten, making your pasta dough flexible and elastic instead of dry and crumbly. It's a must-have, and most grocery stores carry it!

Can I flavor my dough?

Absolutely! This dough would be delicious with a few cranks of black pepper, finely chopped herbs, or a 1/2 teaspoon or so of dried spices.

Do I need a pasta maker?

Not necessarily, depending on what type of shapes you want to make. Start by rolling out your dough as thin as possible (like 1/16 of an inch thin!) before cutting it. You could always eyeball cutting it into strips for fettuccine-style noodles, or keep the slices thick for lasagna! Any other shapes will likely be too tricky, but worth a shot.

How long will the pasta keep?

If it's fresh, you'll want to boil and eat it right away! If you need to wait a few hours, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Any longer than that and we'd suggest drying the pasta. To do this, simply leave the pasta uncovered on a baking sheet in the warmest part of your kitchen. Overnight, the pasta will transform from fresh to dry! Keep it in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, and enjoy pasta whenever the craving strikes!

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Ingredients

2 1/3 cups
gluten-free flour, such as Cup4Cup
2 tsp.
xanthan gum
1 tsp.
kosher salt
5
large eggs

Directions

1. Step 1In a large bowl, whisk together gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, and salt.
2. Step 2Make a large well in the center of your flour mixture and add eggs. Using a fork, beat eggs until mixed, then slowly integrate flour into eggs until no dry flour is left and a ball of dough has formed. (You may have to switch from a fork to your hands near the end of the mixing process.)
3. Step 3Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Step 4Cut dough into quarters and wrap all but one in plastic wrap. On a lightly floured surface, roll uncovered dough into a long rectangle about 1/4” thick. Set pasta maker to widest setting and pass the rolled out dough through 2 times. Fold the short ends of the dough to meet in the center of the rectangle, then fold in half so that the dough is in quarters. Roll out again to the dough is 1/4” thick, then pass through pasta maker 2 more times.
5. Step 5Adjust pasta maker to be 1 degree more narrow and repeat process. Continue rolling, folding, and adjusting until desired thickness is reached. Dough should be slightly translucent.
6. Step 6Place rolled out dough onto a lightly floured surface and dust with more flour. Repeat process with remaining dough quarters.
7. Step 7Adjust pasta maker to desired width of noodles and feed dough through machine. Divide noodles into equally sized portions and curl into nests. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and cover with a clean kitchen towel until ready to cook.
8. Step 8To cook: bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add pasta. Boil, stirring gently with a wooden spoon, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
9. Step 9Drain and serve with your favorite pasta sauce.