Homemade Pasta Dough

Method

1. To prepare the homemade pasta dough, begin by sifting the flour onto a clean surface and creating a well in the center with your fist. Add the eggs, oil, and salt into the well, and add any desired coloring ingredients if applicable.
2. Gradually mix the flour into the egg mixture with your fingers until a firm dough is formed. If the dough is too dry, add water a few drops at a time, and if it's too wet, add a little more flour. Knead the dough for 2 to 5 minutes until it's smooth, then massage it with olive oil and let it rest for at least 30 minutes in a plastic bag at room temperature.
3. To shape the pasta dough, pass it through a pasta machine several times on the widest setting, folding it into thirds and repeating the process. Gradually reduce the machine's setting and pass the dough through again until it reaches the desired thickness. Cut the pasta into desired shapes, either by hand or using cutters, and let it dry over a broom handle or chair back. Alternatively, toss it lightly in flour and lay it out in loose bundles on a tray. Use the pasta immediately or store it in the freezer.