How to make hand-cut noodles
These noodles are fun and easy to make and it doesn’t matter if they end up a bit wonky or uneven; that just adds to their rustic, hand-made charm! You don’t need any fancy equipment to make them either; just a pair of clean hands, a rolling pin, a large, sharp knife and a bit of elbow grease. They’re a good cooking project for beginner cooks too so let bored kids loose on them, if you have some of those mooching around.
1. Combine 450g (3 cups) plain flour, ½ tsp salt and 250ml (1 cup) cold water in a bowl and stir to just combine.
2. Using your hands, mix until a soft dough forms – add a little extra water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the dough feels too firm, or a little extra flour if it feels too wet.
3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 6-8 minutes or until it is smooth and elastic. Alternatively, you can knead the dough in an electric mixer using a dough hook.
4. Form into a ball, place on a board, cover loosely with a clean damp tea towel, then stand for 1 hour to rest.
5. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to form a rectangle about 40 x 25cm. Scatter the surface lightly with flour.
6. With a long edge facing you, fold the dough over onto itself in 5cm wide folds, scattering flour between each fold to prevent sticking.
7. You should end up with a neat strip about 5cm wide.
8. Using a large, sharp knife, cut the strip into 1½ cm-wide strips.Using your fingers, gently separate the noodles and lightly toss to loosen them.
9. Place them on a tray in a single layer. Dust again lightly with flour to stop the noodles sticking together, then cover with a tea towel until you’re ready to cook. If you’re cooking straight away, bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the noodles, stir and cook for 2-3 minutes until tender. Drain and serve with the sauce of your choice.
