Gelf Alderson

Pasta Making at Home

  • Recommended

    $220

    Includes personal feedback and tuition. More

  • $75

    Learn in an online classroom with no more than 20 classmates. More

Course Description

Learn how to make pasta at home with River Cottage's Head Chef Steven Kiernan.

Whether you’re completely new to making homemade pasta or have been dabbling in the delicious art, Steven's love of making pasta and new pasta recipes will inspire you to make handmade pasta dishes.

Steven's pasta making course demonstrates different styles of pasta dough, where you’ll learn about different flours - why is ’00 favoured in Italy, how to source great local equivalents, what’s the most important element to look for when sourcing flour, plus the difference between stoneground or mill rolled flours when making your dough.

Steven will also guide you through using alternative flours, including wholegrain and how eggs, olive oil and water change the dough.

You'll then learn to roll your pasta dough by hand and using a machine. He’ll guide you through the pros and cons of each before showing you how to make different pasta shapes including spaghetti, pappardelle and farfalle.

You’ll also learn how to master ravioli and other filled pastas like tortellini, as well as different seasonal filled pasta and pasta sauce ideas.

You'll learn:

  • how to make pasta
  • which flours to use for different types of pasta
  • creating pasta shapes from your pasta dough
  • rolling out pasta dough by hand or by machine
  • pasta sauce and filling recipes

The course includes:

  • 4 on-demand video lessons - presented by Steven Kiernan and River Cottage
  • lifetime access to the videos, notes and interactive class
  • flexible classes - join and learn when and where you like
  • downloadable lesson notes
  • practical pasta making assignments and recipes (with tutor feedback available)
  • access on your mobile, PC, Mac or laptop
  • small interactive online classroom - chat online to students from around the world and share your creative ideas

Independent Cookery Schools Association approved

This course has been approved by the Independent Cookery Schools Association (ICSA), recognising the highest standards of training.

Time to complete the pasta making course:

Every student is different but in general we think the whole course will take around 14 hours 45 minutes to complete including:

  • Video lessons: 2 hours 45 minutes in total
  • Course notes: 30 minutes per lesson
  • Your pasta recipe assignments: at least 2 hours per lesson
  • Interactive classroom time: 15 minutes per lesson
  • Tutor feedback review (Expert level): 15 minutes per lesson

You'll need:

Your lesson notes will include the full details of the ingredients you'll need, but you will be making pasta, so you'll need standard kitchen equipment. If you have a pasta machine then Steve will show you techniques to use it, but you can also complete the course by hand rolling your pasta dough.

Ready to get started?

Just add the course to your basket above - choose the 'Expert' option for personal feedback from Steven on your pasta.

If you know someone who'd love this course then give it as a gift - just tick "This is a gift" at the checkout.

Any questions? Contact us by clicking on the orange speech symbol - we'd love to hear from you.

CPD Accreditation

Course activity has been accredited by the CPD Standards Office (CPDSO). The course equates to 14 hours, 45 minutes of CPD learning.
The CPD Standards Office. CPD Provider: 50276.

Course outline

  • Perfect pasta dough

    In this first lesson, Steven will give you an in-depth guide through making different styles of pasta dough.

    You’ll learn about different flours - why is ’00 favoured in Italy, how to source great local equivalents, what’s the most important element to look for when sourcing flour, difference between stoneground versus mill rolled flours when making your dough.

    Steven will also guide you through using alternative flours, including wholegrain and how eggs, olive oil and water change the dough.

  • Spaghetti and beyond – how to roll and cut your dough

    In this lesson, Steven will teach you how to roll your dough both by hand and using a machine.

    He’ll guide you through the pros and cons of each before showing you how to make different pasta shapes including spaghetti, pappardelle and farfalle.

    You’ll also learn dough problem solving skills, the best way to cook, how to dry fresh pasta and cooking techniques (why and when to add salt and oil to the water).

  • Ravioli and other filled pastas

    This lesson celebrates the art of making filled pastas such as ravioli, tortellini and agnolotti.

    Steven will inspire you with different seasonal filling ideas and guide you through how to cook your filled pasta successfully.

  • The sauce

    The final lesson celebrates your homemade pastas' successes with an array of seasonal sauce ideas.

    Steven will show you how to use pasta as a vehicle to celebrate the seasons with delicious recipes that are sure to become household staples.

Choose how you want to learn

  • The Expert option

    Recommended

    Develop your learning further with marked assignments and personal tuition from Gelf Alderson

    • Start course whenever you like
    • 4 weeks tutor access for personalised assignment feedback & coaching
    • 4 assignments marked by Gelf Alderson
    • Certificate of completion and CPD hours
    • Online classroom with up to 20 classmates
    • 4 lessons with expert videos & notes
    • Group chat & direct message with tutor & classmates
    • Lifetime access to videos, notes & classroom
    Learn more
    $220
  • The Peer option

    Discover the benefits of group learning in an online interactive classroom of no more than 20 people. Get the most from shared knowledge and community study

    • Start course whenever you like
    • Practise what you learn with your peers
    • Online classroom with up to 20 classmates
    • 4 lessons with expert videos & notes
    • 4 course assignments
    • Group chat & direct message classmates
    • Lifetime access to videos, notes & classroom
    Learn more
    $75

New
Buy this course for a business or group

You can now buy this course through your business or organisation for individuals and groups up to 20

Food & Drink classroom - how it works

  • Start anytime

    Watch video tutorials led by expert tutors

    Watch video tutorials led by expert tutors
  • Test yourself

    Practice what you learn with inspiring assignments

    Practice what you learn with inspiring assignments
  • Personal tuition

    Get assignment feedback from expert tutors

    Get assignment feedback from expert tutors
  • Share ideas

    Collaborate and chat directly to classmates

    Collaborate and chat directly to classmates

Meet Gelf Alderson

Gelf Alderson - Food & Drink
Gelf Alderson is the Culinary Director at River Cottage having worked alongside Hugh F-W for nearly ten years. Gelf is a dedicated ambassador of the River Cottage commitment to sustainability. He was one of the early pioneers of the farm to fork philosophy and is passionate about using food that is farmed locally, sourced from the River Cottage kitchen garden, or foraged from the surrounding area.

Gelf is able to communicate the importance of sustainable eating in a simple, practical and down to earth way. He is both engaging and charismatic and leaves people with a clear understanding and heads full of ideas to implement at home.

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    12 Courses • 9 Expert Tutors

    River Cottage Next Level Diploma takes your cooking skills onto the next stage with River Cottage's team of chefs led by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

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Awards & Accreditations

  • CPD Accredited (provider 50276)
  • Good Web Guide
  • Red Herring Winner
  • Education Investor Awards 2021 - Finalist
  • Royal Horticultural Society
  • Digital Education Awards 2023 Winner for Digital Health and Wellbeing Learning Product of the Year
  • Digital Education Awards 2023 Winner for Adult Home Learning Product of the Year