9 Fresh Pastas Paired with the Perfect Sauces

Homemade Saffron Pasta

Here's a fragrant, colorful fresh egg pasta that's infused with saffron. "Roll out in thin sheets with or without a pasta machine, then bake directly in a lasagna with bolognese or bechamel sauce, or make tagliatelle and serve with your favorite sauce," says Alemarsi. Watch the brief video to see how to make saffron pasta!

Pair Your Pasta:

• Lasagna Recipes
• Bechamel Sauce
• Bolognese Sauce

Spinach Pasta Dough

This homemade green pasta is as easy to make as regular fresh pasta; all you do is add some spinach to the dough. "A nicely colored, flavorful pasta dough that can be turned into lasagna sheets or tagliatelle," says Alemarsi. "Make sure to squeeze off all the water from your spinach or the dough will be too soft and impossible to work with!"

Pair Your Pasta:

• Creamy Pasta Sauces
• Smoked Salmon Alfredo Sauce
• Creamy Chicken, Mushroom, and Spinach Pasta

Authentic Homemade Italian Egg Pasta Dough

Flour, eggs, salt are all you need to make fresh pasta at home. "This is the simplest and most authentic Italian recipe you'll find to make homemade pasta like lasagna, ravioli, tagliatelle, tortellini... you name it!" says Alemarsi. "The best part is you don't even need a pasta machine if you don't have one!"

Pair Your Pasta:

• Chicken Primavera Alfredo
• Ham and Asparagus Fettuccine
• Spinach Alfredo Sauce (Better than Olive Garden)

Homemade Orecchiette Pasta

"Orecchiette are the typical pasta of Apulia (Puglia), the heel of Italy," says Bernadette. "Local women in the region still hand-make them for special occasions or just for Sunday lunch. The most traditional way to serve them is with broccoli rabe and anchovy sauce." Watch the short video to see how to make orecchiette pasta.

Pair Your Pasta:

• Pasta with Broccoli Rabe (Cima di Rapa)
• Creamy Ricotta Pasta Sauce
• One Pan Orecchiette Pasta

Homemade Farfalle Pasta

"Flour and water are all you need to make traditional farfalle (or bow ties) at home," says tea. Make sure to use a durum wheat semolina, a very refined flour (usually imported directly from Italy) or your pasta won't stay firm and "al dente" during the cooking process." Watch the short video to see how to make farfalle pasta.

Pair Your Pasta:

• Mediterranean Farfalle
• Pesto Pasta with Chicken
• More Recipes for Farfalle Pasta

Whole Wheat Pasta

Here's a fresh pasta that combines whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour. Whole wheat pasta does best with a full-flavored pasta sauce. "Fresh, healthy and very delish," says Gia. "I sometimes make this the traditional style, and when in a hurry, I throw all the ingredients into my mixer, with the kneading hook."

Pair Your Pasta:

• Mediterranean Whole Wheat Pasta Toss
• Sunday Pasta Sauce
• Vegetarian Whole Wheat Pasta with Broccoli and Gorgonzola

Homemade Red Pasta Dough

"Just a bit of tomato paste is all it takes to give your homemade pasta an appetizing reddish hue and delicious taste," says Alemarsi. "Use to make tagliatelle, lasagna, or ravioli."

Pair Your Pasta:

• Kim's Lasagna
• Tagliatelle with Coriander Pesto
• Ravioli Recipes

Homemade Lasagna Sheets

"Homemade lasagna sheets are easier to make than you think and you don't even need a pasta machine!" says Alemarsi. "And forget about blanching the sheets before baking - no precooking is required!"

Pair Your Pasta:

• Meat Lasagna Recipes
• Vegetarian Lasagna Recipes
• More Lasagna Recipes

Homemade Tagliatelle

"Use this recipe to make homemade tagliatelle, or try thinner, more delicate tagliolini," says Alemarsi. "Cut into thicker strands for pappardelle. All it takes is a fun afternoon in the kitchen!" Watch the video, to see how to make homemade tagliatelle.

Pair Your Pasta:

• Chef John's Creamy Mushroom Pasta
• Ragin' Cajun Pasta
• Italian Carbonara with Bacon

More Italian-Inspired Recipes

• A Taste Tour of Italy in 7 Complete Menus
• Italian Recipes That Would Make Your Nonna Proud
• Chef John's Best Italian Recipes