simple pasta

So today I was just sitting there on my couch, studying/watching stuff on Hulu when I suddenly have an intense craving for homemade pasta. Luckily, it's super easy to make. And this particular recipe has just enough for one person. (Eat up, lonely pasta lovers, like myself.)

FOR THE PASTA

2 egg yolks

1/2 c. flour (I used gluten-free Cup4Cup flour)

FOR THE SAUCE

2 TBS butter

1 garlic clove

1/2 TBS fresh thyme

1/2 TBS fresh rosemary

pinch of cardamom

DIRECTIONS

Take your flour and create a little pile of it on a clean surface. Create a well/little hole within the flour pile and put the yolks inside of it (see the picture above). At that point, you just mix it all up, kneading it for around 10 minutes or so until it turns into a smooth little ball. When the dough has stopped being sticky, you place it into an air tight container. Either let it rest for an hour or so, or put it into the fridge until you are ready to use it.

After it has rested, you have the option to whip out your pasta roller and send the dough through it until it's nice and flat. You also have the option to place the ball on a well floured surface and flatten it with a hand roller. (This is the option I use, due to a lack of a pasta roller, but avoid it if you can. It's the worst.) When it's as flat as you can get it, use a sharp knife to cut the dough into strips.

Boil the pasta strips in salted water for a few minutes. The time will be dependent on how thin you were able to get your pasta. For example, if your dough is really thin it will take around 2 minutes. If you have giant, thick noodles like mine, it will take closer to 8 minutes. Drain the pasta.

The sauce is also extremely simple. Over medium-low heat, melt your butter in a saucepan. Crush your garlic and then add it along with all of the herbs and spices. Let it simmer very slightly for 5 minutes or so to enhance the flavors. Add your drained pasta to the saucepan and let it all soak up for another 5 minutes or so. Dish up your pasta and top it off with more fresh herbs and parmesan cheese.