Go Back
+ servings
A close up of fresh cavatelli pasta on a blue work surface
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Homemade Cavatelli Pasta

How to make Homemade Cavatelli Pasta with just 2 simple ingredients! Cavatelli are made with an eggless semolina pasta dough making them super easy to work with. Serve with your favourite sauce.
Prep Time30 minutes
Resting time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 servings (makes 1 pound/450g)
Calories: 254kcal
Author: Emily Wyper

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Put the semola flour in a large mixing bowl or in a pile on a clean work surface and make a well in the middle.
    300 g Semola Rimacinata
  • Add the warm water and slowly incorporate the flour using a fork. Once a rough dough has formed, knead it for 10 minutes into a smooth ball.
    150 ml hot water
  • Cover the ball with plastic wrap (cling film) and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.
  • Once rested, cut the dough into quarters. On a clean work surface with no flour (important) roll one quarter into a long rope shape about ½ inch thick (make sure to keep the rest of the dough covered in plastic wrap so it doesn’t dry out).
  • Cut the rope into ½ inch wide squares. To shape the cavatelli, place one cut piece of dough in front of you with the cut side towards you. Using a finger or side of your thumb roll the dough towards or away from you to create a smooth shell shape then place in an area dusted with flour (make sure to keep your worksurface flour free whilst shaping).
  • Repeat with the remaining dough, rolling into ropes, cutting and shaping.

How to cook them

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the cavatelli for about 2-3 minutes. Check one to see if it’s ready (they will be chewier than egg pasta).
  • Toss them with your desired pasta sauce and serve.

How to store them (refrigerator and freezer)

  • If you’ll be using them soon you can store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make sure they are dusted with flour and in an even layer.
  • To freeze them, lay them on a tray in an even layer and freeze. Once frozen, transfer them into a freezer bag to save space. Boil them straight from frozen then add to sauce (they’ll take a few minutes longer).

Video

Notes

  • *Measuring with cups - if using cups make sure to spoon the semola into the cup and level it off with a knife. If you use the scooping method you will measure too much flour. For best results use a kitchen scale.
  • Let the dough rest before shaping - it's important to let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes before rolling out and shaping as it'll be more pliable and easier to work with.
  • DO NOT use flour for rolling - it's really important that when rolling the pasta into ropes or logs that you don't dust the surface with any semola or other flour or the dough will just slide about and will be really hard to roll out. If you find this has happened cover the dough with plastic wrap until it's tacky again and use a clean surface.
  • Roll them from the cut side - when shaping the cavatelli, roll them with the cut side at the top and not at the side. It's not a big deal if you don't but it'll give you a nice oval shape at both ends and more grip on your work surface.

Nutrition

Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 323mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 3mg