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    Recipes » Pasta

    Handmade Rigatoni & Paccheri (Without an Extruder!)

    Published: Jun 13, 2022 · Modified: Jan 15, 2023 by foodworthfeed

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This homemade pasta making tutorial will demonstrate exactly how to make hand crafted rigatoni and paccheri noodles - without a fancy pasta extruder!

    A close up image of handmade paccheri and rigatoni with a grooved gnocchi board

    This is an in-depth post about making pasta from scratch and meticulously shaping noodles completely by hand. Feel free to skip ahead to the recipe, or any part of this post using our Table of Contents.

    Table of Contents

    • Making Homemade Multi-Purpose Pasta Dough
      • Ingredients
      • Procedure
    • Equipment For Handmade Tube-Shaped Noodles
    • Shaping The Pasta
      • Rigatoni
      • Paccheri
      • Other Shapes You Can Make With This Recipe
    • Drying The Pasta
    • How To Cook Homemade Rigatoni & Paccheri
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Saving & Storing
    • More Pasta Recipes To Try

    Making Homemade Multi-Purpose Pasta Dough

    The key to making handmade rigatoni and paccheri is starting with the right pasta dough. Our multi-purpose semolina pasta dough is a hybrid of a standard semolina pasta AND a fresh egg pasta. This dough gives us both a silky mouthfeel and the durability needed to craft elegant shapes.

    Ingredients

    Our semolina pasta dough comes together quickly with just a few basic ingredients. Here's what you'll need:

    a picture of ingredients needed to make semolina pasta dough
    Ingredient quantities can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Procedure

    Check out this quick video demonstrating how I mix my pasta dough by hand, with a bench scraper:

    For a more in-depth tutorial of making this homemade pasta dough, you can check out our full post here:

    A woman using a bench scraper to incorporate flour into fresh pasta dough

    Homemade Semolina Pasta Dough

    (How To Make Fresh Pasta)

    Follow the link for our scratch pasta recipe and guide with Step-by-Step instructions, best practices and How To videos!

    Equipment For Handmade Tube-Shaped Noodles

    After making fresh pasta dough, there are some mandatory kitchen tools you will need to make your own tube-shaped noodles.

    It's quickest and easiest if you have a pasta machine (we use a little hand-cranked Atlas Marcato machine) but, you can also sheet the dough with a rolling pin. Aside from sheeting, here are the other tools we suggest:

    A picture of a ball of pasta dough and pasta making tools
    • Damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap - Work in small batches and keep the remaining pasta dough covered to avoid drying it out.
    • Mini rolling pin - A 1 inch diameter rolling pin is great for sheeting pasta and makes an easy guide for shaping paccheri.
    • Brass pasta wheel - You can also use a sharp kitchen knife, or even a bench scraper.
    • Ruler - For precise shapes that will cook evenly, we recommend using a ruler to measure your pieces of dough.
    • Dowel - This ⅜ inch wooden crafting dowel is perfect for shaping rigatoni.
    • Gnocchi Board - Optional, of course. However, added ridges are great for catching more sauce. You can also use a sushi mat to achieve similar ridges.
    • Bench Scraper - Great for mixing and portioning the dough.

    Shaping The Pasta

    Once your pasta dough is made and rested, it's time to start shaping! Start the process by quartering and sheeting the dough to your desired thickness.

    a woman rolling a long thin rectangle of pasta dough with a small rolling pin
    A woman running a sheet of pasta dough through a pasta machine
    Check out the Semolina Pasta Dough post for detailed instructions on sheeting pasta dough with a rolling pin or a pasta machine.

    Rigatoni

    For rigatoni, we recommend sheeting the pasta dough to a thickness of 1.8 millimeters (The #4 setting on an Atlas Marcato machine). This thicker width allows for the addition of ridges and creates a chewy, floppy noodle.

    A picture of several homemade rigatoni and one being made with a dowel and gnocchi board

    1. Start by using a ruler and brass pasta wheel (or knife) to square the edges of the dough. Then, use the ruler as a guide to cut the dough into 2 inch (5 centimeter) squares.

    Using a ruler and brass pasta wheel to cut squares of pasta dough
    A pile of several pasta dough squares

    2. Working with one piece at a time, place a square of dough onto your gnocchi board (or sushi mat). Then, shape the dough, like a tube, around the wooden dowel. Press the dowel into the overlapping dough to seal. Continue to apply even pressure and roll the rigatoni away from you, creating ridges along the exterior.

    rolling a square of pasta dough around a wooden dowel over a gnocchi board
    Rolling the pasta on the dowel over the gnocchi board

    Ideally, you will apply just enough pressure on the dowel to create a tube of pasta with a good seal and an even thickness. Rolling the rigatoni along the gnocchi board will thin the dough slightly, but do not press so hard that the gnocchi board cuts through the pasta.

    Rolling the tube of pasta across the gnocchi board to make ridges
    A hand holding a few freshly formed rigatoni

    The first few are always the most difficult. It takes a little practice, but once you get the feel for it - it will go pretty quickly.

    Paccheri

    To make paccheri (without ridges) we recommend sheeting the pasta dough to a 1.5 millimeter thickness (or setting 5 on an Atlas Marcato machine).

    Rows of homemade paccheri standing up right on a sheet tray

    1. Just like you would for rigatoni, start by using a straight edge and brass pasta wheel (or knife) to square the pasta dough. (Save all the scraps to re-roll, later on!)

    Using a brass pasta wheel and ruler to square a sheet of pasta dough

    2. Now, roll the dough around your pin to help determine the length needed for each noodle. Cut rectangles of dough that are 1 ½ inches (about 4 centimeters) wide by a length that is slightly longer than the diameter of your dowel. Our rectangles of dough were 4 inches (1 decimeter) long.

    Rolling a sheet of pasta dough around a mini rolling pin
    Cutting rectangles of pasta dough for paccheri

    3. Wrap each rectangle of dough around your mini rolling pin, pressing to seal at the overlapping seam. Use the dowel to press the overlapping seam of dough into your work surface to create a tube of even thickness.

    Rolling a rectangle of dough around a mini rolling pin
    Shaping homemade paccheri around a mini rolling pin

    Like most pasta shapes, the first few are more difficult. As you go along, you will get a feel for the pressure needed and the process will become a bit faster.

    A hand holding a fresh paccheri noodle

    Other Shapes You Can Make With This Recipe

    This multi-purpose pasta dough is great for creating lots of unique pasta shapes. Check out some of our other pasta tutorials using this recipe:

    • How To Make Homemade Fettuccine (By Hand or Machine)
    • How To Make Farfalle (Homemade Bowtie Pasta)
    • Homemade Italian Pappardelle (Fresh Pasta Recipe)
    • How To Make Homemade Ravioli Step by Step- 5 Easy Ways

    This pasta dough recipe is also great for homemade lasagna!

    Drying The Pasta

    Once shaped, the pasta needs to be dried, at least briefly, before cooking. During the drying process, the pasta becomes porous and allows the rigatoni or paccheri to bind beautifully with the sauce. 

    To help keep these noodles tube shape intact, we recommend drying fresh paccheri and rigatoni noodles standing straight up. Lightly dust a sheet pan with semolina flour and place each noodle standing up, as you make them.

    Fresh paccheri and rigatoni noodles drying standing up
    Standing the shaped noodles upright helps to prevent collapsing and keep that perfect, sauce-catching tube shape.

    How To Cook Homemade Rigatoni & Paccheri

    Cooking handmade rigatoni and paccheri is no different than cooking store-bought pasta. Start by bringing a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Salt the water generously, to help flavor the pasta while cooking. Then, drop your fresh pasta into the water, a few at a time.

    The exact cooking time of your fresh pasta will vary depending on size and thickness. Our handmade rigatoni and paccheri typically boil between 5 - 10 minutes. Test a noodle or two to determine your desired doneness.

    Chef's Note: Boiling Pasta - The key to cooking pasta evenly is to keep the water at a constant, roaring boil. Make sure to use a large pot to keep the water nice and hot and allow the pasta to swim a bit. Then, drop the pasta into the water slowly, as to not lower the waters' temperature.

    Dumping boiled rigatoni into a big pot of sauce
    Try our hearty 'Nduja Vodka Sauce with handmade rigatoni pasta!

    We recommend pulling the handmade tube noodles from the salty boil when they are just slightly undercooked. Use a spider tool to transfer the pasta directly from the boil into a pan with your heated sauce. Finish cooking the pasta, with a splash of pasta water, directly in the sauce while stirring constantly.

    Serving Suggestions

    Hand-shaped paccheri and rigatoni noodles can pair with endless of sauces and proteins. They make for a delicious main course or filling, starchy side.

    We recommend serving your handmade rigatoni or paccheri with rich, hearty sauces that pair well with the chewy, toothsome noodles. Meat sauces like our homemade Ragu alla Bolognese, a classic Amatriciana or our 'Nduja Vodka Sauce are a prefect pairing.

    These pasta shapes are also great for rich cream sauces, baked pasta dishes and serving with proteins like sausage, braised osso bucco or our quick Chicken Marsala Meatballs.

    Saving & Storing

    Handmade paccheri and rigatoni are made with an egg pasta dough that is best eaten immediately, or within a few days. The shaped pasta can be stored uncovered in the fridge for 2 - 3 days. (You can store the noodles standing up on the drying tray.)

    We do not recommend freezing the shaped noodles. The homemade pasta dough, however, can be twice-wrapped and frozen for 2 - 3 months.

    More Pasta Recipes To Try

    • Creamy Cajun-Style Pasta with Andouille Sausage
    • Green Pea Pasta with Burrata
    • Lasagna al Forno (with Fresh Pasta and Bechamel)
    • Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo with Chicken
    A close-up image of hand made rigatoni and paccheri with semolina pasta dough

    Handmade Rigatoni & Paccheri (Without an Extruder!)

    This recipe uses our favorite multi-purpose pasta dough to hand make rigatoni and paccheri noodles that are perfect for hearty pasta sauces.
    4.86 from 7 votes
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    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Fresh Pasta Dough Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Author: foodworthfeed
    Prevent your screen from going dark while reading this recipe

    Special Equipment

    • 1 Bench Scraper
    • 1 Pasta Machine (Optional), or Rolling Pin
    • 1 Brass Pasta Wheel or Sharp Knife
    • 1 Ruler
    • ⅜ inch Dowel (for shaping rigatoni)
    • 1 Mini Rolling Pin (for shaping paccheri) (Or 1 inch Dowel)
    • 1 Spider Kitchen Utensil (or Colander), for draining

    Ingredients

    Fresh Semolina Pasta Dough (See the full post, here.)

    • 1 ¼ Cups semolina flour plus more for preventing sticking, as needed
    • 1 ¼ Cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 large whole egg room temperature
    • 5 large egg yolks room temperature
    • Water as needed (about 2+ Tablespoons)
    • fine kosher salt* as needed, for seasoning during boil
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Fresh Semolina Pasta Dough

    • Gather, measure and prepare the recipe ingredients as listed. For the most consistent results, we recommend using metric weight measurements whenever possible.
      In a medium mixing bowl, add semolina and bread flours and whisk to combine. Transfer flour mixture in a mound on a smooth, clean work surface. Shape a well in the center of your flour.
    • Add the egg, egg yolks and about 1 Tablespoon (15 milliliters) of water to the well.
    • Using a fork, begin to whisk the eggs and water together until smoothly combined. Continue whisking, while slowly bringing flour into the eggs to form a smooth paste.
    • Once most of the pasta flour is incorporated and the dough begins to come together, switch from using the fork to using your bench scraper. Scrape the dough up from your work surface and fold it over itself. Use the bench scraper to chop the mixture together and evenly distribute the flour throughout a shaggy dough. If the dough is too dry to come together, drizzle a little additional water over the mass of dough and continue to combine with the bench scraper. 
    • Use your hands to pull the dough together and knead. Use the mass of dough to pick up any scraggly dough scraps or loose flour on your work surface. The dough should be firm and may be slighlty tacky but should not stick to your hands or the work surface.
    • Once all the flour is incorporated and dough is homogenous, form into a ball. Cover the dough with a damp towel or plastic wrap to prevent drying. Allow the dough to rest for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator. Once rested, you can begin sheeting your pasta to make homemade rigatoni or paccheri.

    How To Shape Rigatoni

    • Divide Fresh semolina pasta dough into quarters. Working with one quarter at a time, keep the remaining dough covered with plastic or a damp kitchen towel. Sheet the pasta dough to a 1.8 millimeter thickness. Then, using a ruler and brass pasta wheel (or sharp knife), cut the dough into 2x2 inch (5x5 centimeter) squares.
    • Working with one piece at a time, set a square of dough over a gnocchi board. Wrap the dough around the ⅜ inch dowel and apply pressure to the dowel to seal the overlapping dough. Apply even pressure while rolling the tube of pasta away from you, creating ridges around the exterior of the rigatoni noodle.

    How To Shape Paccheri

    • Divide Fresh semolina pasta dough into quarters. Working with one quarter at a time, keep the remaining dough covered with plastic or a damp kitchen towel. Sheet the pasta dough to a 1.5 millimeter thickness. Then, using a ruler and brass pasta wheel (or sharp knife), cut the dough into 1½ x4 inch (4x10 centimeter) rectangles.
    • Working with piece at a time, set a rectangle of dough over a smooth work surface. Wrap the dough around the mini rolling pin (or 1 inch dowel) and apply pressure to seal the overlapping dough. Roll the pin back and forth slightly to create an even seal.

    Drying & Cooking

    • After shaping each rigatoni and/or paccheri noodles, stand the noodles upright on a semolina dusted sheet tray. Allow the noodles to dry uncovered until ready to cook, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 - 3 days.
    • When ready to cook, bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil over high heat. Salt the water generously. Add rigatoni or paccheri noodles to the boil, a few at a time (as not to disrupt the boil). Cook pasta 5 - 10 minutes, testing a noodle or two for your desired doneness.
    • We recommend cooking the pasta until just slightly underdone. Then, use a spider utensil to transfer the cooked pasta into a pot of your heated sauce. Finish cooking the pasta directly in the sauce for 1 - 3 minutes, with a splash of pasta water, while stirring constantly.

    *Unless otherwise noted, foodworthfeed recipes are developed using Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt. If using iodized or table salt, reduce quantities by about half.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 249IU | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3mg
    Did You Try This Recipe?Please leave a star rating! Then snap a pic & mention @foodworthfeed or tag #foodworthfeed to be featured on our Instagram stories!

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