Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe from Scratch (2024)

By Laura

Posted Oct 27, 2017, Updated Oct 09, 2022

5 from 45 votes

47 Comments

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This Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta is the best homemade pasta recipe that tastes so much more delicious than boxed varieties! Use it in a delicious main dish or serve it as a yummy side dish!

Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe from Scratch (2)

I wentmany years in my life only eating fresh, homemade pasta from scratch.

I had the time to be a little bit of a food snob, I couldn’t help help it! I prefer this this Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta to anything that can be found in the store (and I love using it to make recipes like this pesto pasta or this pasta primavera)

And even though it might sound intimidating, it’s really not! Making your own pasta is actually really easy and fun.

Once you eat homemade noodles it isso hard to ever eat store-bought varieties again. I got over it when I had my third baby and my life forever changed (read: I didn’t have the time or energy to make everything from scratch anymore).

However, now that I have older kids who love to cook with me, we’ve started making this whole wheat pasta again as a fun way to spend time together in the kitchen.

Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe from Scratch (3)

Perfect recipe for entertaining!

Pasta dishes are great to make when you need to feed a crowd! So whenever we have friends over for a yummy Italian dinner, I usually break out my pasta machine and make thisHomemade Whole Wheat Pasta from scratch. I really think it gives the meal an extra special touch.

It took me about a year to create what I believe to be theperfectHomemade Whole Wheat Pasta recipe. I tested different methods, ingredients and ratios until I got it just right. So here are a few tips and tricks to making this recipe!

Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe from Scratch (4)

How to Make Whole Wheat Pasta Dough

  • Use aFood processor.In this recipe, the dough is made in the food processor,which means that it’s easy! Just process the ingredients until the dough forms a ball and then knead it until it’s no longer sticky.
  • Rolling.I have a version of this pasta maker and Ilove it.Always start the rolling process on a thicker (lower number) setting and gradually roll it thinner until the desired thickness is achieved. My sequence is usually 2, 4, 5, 6. My maker goes up to a 7, but I prefer to stop at 6!
  • Cutting.Usually a pasta maker comes with the option to cut two different sizes of noodles. I like the thicker ones (pictured here), but again it’s totally preference! You can also use a pasta cutter and cut the dough into squares by hand to make homemade ravioli!
Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe from Scratch (5)

How to cook fresh whole wheat pasta from scratch:

  • Cooking.Fresh pasta cooks in a fraction of the time that it takes to cook boxed, dried pasta.We’re talking 2-3 minutes and it’s done! You’ll notice the noodles start floating to the top, and that’s when to take them out of the boiling water.
  • Large batch.This recipe makes a lot of noodles. If you want less, simply halve the recipe. It makes so much you will need to cook them in batches, so do not dump out the water!

Serve

Serve this pasta in your favorite dishes. Here are some suggestions

  • Toss it in some homemade pesto sauce to make pesto pasta.
  • Use it to make pasta primavera.
  • Make this avocado pasta sauce and serve it as a meatless main dish.
  • Serve it as a side dish to this baked pesto chicken.
Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe from Scratch (6)

FAQs about Homemade Pasta

Is whole wheat pasta healthy?

Yes! This whole wheat pasta is loaded with fiber & nutrients and even protein. Plus it is made from scratch so it doesn’t have any preservatives or unwanted ingredients.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, you can double this recipe! Use the 2X button for ingredient measurements.

How do you store homemade pasta?

Store cooked pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can I freeze this whole wheat pasta?

Yes, you can freeze the noodles before or after cooking. To do this, lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash-freeze them until hard. Then transfer them to an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. I prefer to freeze cooked pasta. If you freeze the noddles before they’re cooked you can put the frozen noodles directly into boiling water to cook them.

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Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe: Substitutions

This is a recipe I do not recommend tampering with at all. It took me a long time to develop the perfect noodle and I wouldn’t them to not turn out amazing for you.

There are two ways youcould change the recipe and still have perfect results:

  1. Flour.You can use only all-purpose flour for this recipe, but you may need to add a touch more than is called for. You cannot use all whole wheat flour because recipe will turn out super dense if you do.
  2. Olive oil.Any neutral oil works well in this recipe. Avocado and canola are two varieties I have used successfully!
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Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta from Scratch

Laura

This Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta is the best homemade pasta recipe that tastes so much more delicious than boxed varieties! Use it in a delicious main dish or serve it as a yummy side dish!

5 from 45 votes

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Italian

Servings 12 Servings

Calories 134.8

Prep Time30 minutes minutes

Cook Time5 minutes minutes

Resting time30 minutes minutes

Total Time35 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Put all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour & salt into the container of your food processor fitted with an “S” blade.

  • Pulse to combined.

  • Add eggs, olive oil and water and process until the mixture just starts to form a ball.

  • Dump dough onto a floured surface and knead until it is firm and not sticky (about 4-5 minutes).

  • Place dough ball on a well-floured surface and cover it with a bowl. Let it stand for at least 1 hour.

  • Separate your dough into 8 equal pieces.

  • Roll a piece of dough using a pasta maker into a rectangular sheet. Start at a low thickness setting (I usually start at 2) and increase until the dough has reached your desired thickness (I prefer a “6” on my pasta machine, which goes as high as 7).

  • Once you have a thin rectangular sheet, pass it through the pasta cutter attachment of your pasta maker, using whatever shape noodle you prefer.

  • Hang on a rack or set on a cooling sheet to harden.

  • Repeat with remaining portions of dough until you have used them all.

  • Allow the pasta to air dry for at least 15 minutes and up to 12 hours (to prevent it from clumping together while it’s cooking).

  • When you’re ready to cook, bring water to a boil using a large pot,

  • Cook half of the pasta for 2-3 minutes (the noodles will float), in the boiling water.

  • Use tongs to remove the cooked noodles and place them in a colander to drain, but DO NOT DISCARD WATER! Save the water and cook the second half of the noodles.

  • Drain and serve!

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions:

  • Flour.You can use only all-purpose flour for this recipe, but you may need to add a touch more than is called for. You cannot use all whole wheat flour because recipe will turn out super dense if you do.
  • Olive oil.Any neutral oil works well in this recipe. Avocado and canola are two varieties I have used successfully!

Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freeze

You can freeze the noodles before or after cooking. To do this, lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash-freeze them until hard. Then transfer them to an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. I prefer to freeze cooked pasta. If you freeze the noddles before they’re cooked you can put the frozen noodles directly into boiling water to cook them.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 134.8kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.1g | Protein: 5.6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.5g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 200.3mg | Potassium: 43.6mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase aproduct through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale.Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine!

Homemade Whole Wheat Pasta Recipe from Scratch (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to cooking whole-wheat pasta? ›

The best way to cook whole wheat pasta at home is using enough water and a deep pan for boiling. Cooked pasta should be 'al dente' or "firm to the bite". Undercooked pasta is undesirable and has a taste of raw flour, whereas overcooked pasta will be soft and sticky. So cook the pasta only till it is 90% cooked.

What is the best flour for homemade pasta? ›

Semolina flour is good for pasta because it's a hard variety of wheat and has a high protein content. Both of these properties give more structure to pasta which provides that elusive 'al dente' quality to fresh pastas.

Is homemade whole-wheat pasta healthy? ›

Yes. Regular, or traditional semolina pasta, is made with refined flour. This flour has been stripped of heart-healthy fiber and nutrients. Whole-wheat pasta is made with the whole grain kernel, retaining what makes it most healthy and desirable.

What is the most important thing in making homemade pasta or fresh pasta? ›

Flour is the single most important ingredient for making fresh pasta, so choosing the right flour can make all the difference. The three most commonly used types of flour for pasta-making are all-purpose flour, “00” flour and semola (sometimes called semolina flour in the UK).

How long do you boil whole-wheat pasta for? ›

Reduce heat to a low boil, and cook for 9-10 minutes until pasta is just cooked and most liquid is absorbed. 4. Serve with additional spices and Parmesan cheese, if using, and enjoy! Whole wheat pasta's distinctive taste pairs better with some flavors than others.

What is the difference between whole grain pasta and whole-wheat pasta? ›

Since wheat is a type of grain, it also falls under the definition of whole grain. Essentially, all whole wheat products are whole grain, but not all whole grain products are whole wheat. Both whole grain and whole wheat contain all three parts of the grain kernel — the bran, endosperm, and germ.

What flour do Italians use for homemade pasta? ›

Grano duro is slightly yellow, more granular, and more commonly used for pasta and some breads in the south of Italy. It's also knows as durum wheat flour. Grano tenero is generally what we think of as white flour, and is more broadly used in bread, pizza, and pastry, and northern pasta doughs.

What flour do Italians use for pasta? ›

Semola and semolina flour are mainly used for making pasta, couscous, and some rustic cakes. Semolina has a coarse texture similar to polenta, while semola is flour. You might use semolina to make a breakfast porridge or sweet pudding, or under your pizza dough to keep it from sticking.

Can you use regular flour for homemade pasta? ›

All-purpose flour – In the past, I thought you needed 00 flour or semolina flour to make great fresh pasta, but this homemade pasta recipe proved me wrong. In it, regular all-purpose flour yields chewy, bouncy noodles every time. Eggs – The key ingredient for adding richness and moisture to the dough!

Is it OK to eat whole-wheat pasta everyday? ›

Eating too much whole grain pasta can have some potential effects, but overall it is generally considered a healthy food choice. Whole grain pasta is a good source of fiber, complex carbohydrates, and nutrients, and can be a healthy part of a balanced diet when consumed in moderation.

Is it OK to eat wheat pasta everyday? ›

It is possible to eat pasta daily and still be healthy. The key to eating pasta every day is to limit your portion size and supplement your pasta bowl with essential nutrients. The recommended portion size is two ounces of dry pasta or one cup of cooked pasta.

Which pasta is 100% whole grain? ›

BARILLA WHOLE GRAIN PASTA, MADE WITH 100% WHOLE WHEAT!

Is it worth making pasta from scratch? ›

Most food critics will tell you that homemade pasta is always better than store bought. However, it's important to remember that making pasta is an exact science, and it may take a few batches before you get your ratios right.

What is necessary to avoid when making fresh pasta? ›

15 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Fresh Pasta
  1. Not using the well method to mix your pasta. ...
  2. Using the wrong type of flour. ...
  3. Using too many egg whites. ...
  4. Not using the correct dry-to-wet ingredient ratio. ...
  5. Not adding semolina. ...
  6. Under-kneading your pasta dough. ...
  7. Forgetting to rest your pasta dough. ...
  8. Rolling out your pasta by hand.
Feb 1, 2023

How many eggs to flour ratio for pasta? ›

It's a little more time consuming but a rolling pin and knife will work. As I wrote in Ratio, a perfect pasta ratio is three parts flour mixed with 2 parts egg.

Is there a trick to cooking gluten-free pasta? ›

Because of the starch, gluten-free pasta noodles tend to cling together. Add a glug of olive oil to the water and make sure to run a spoon through it to redistribute every 30 seconds during the first few minutes of cooking. Once the pasta has begun to plump you don't have to worry about it as much.

Why does whole-wheat pasta fall apart? ›

Skovron said: “A whole-wheat pasta made from inferior wheat will just fall apart in the pot, especially if you overcook it — even by one minute. It will have a granular texture that turns to sawdust when you chew because there isn't enough gluten to hold it together.”

Does whole-wheat pasta need more water? ›

Many whole-grain, freshly milled, and gluten-free flours absorb and retain more moisture than typical white flours, which means they'll probably need a little more liquid.

How to make whole-wheat pasta a complete protein? ›

Any one of the following plant foods can be added to make a pasta dish a complete protein:
  1. Legumes (with the exception of soy) such as peas, and beans, including those that are dried, processed or baked.
  2. Vegetables, even if they are frozen.
  3. Nuts and seeds like walnuts, cashews and sunflower seeds.

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