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Semolina Pasta Dough

Author:

Vincenzo Prosperi

Updated:

13th May, 2025

16 Comments

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How to Make Semolina Pasta Dough

If you love homemade pasta but aren’t the biggest fan of the process of making it, then semolina pasta dough is your answer! With just two ingredients and a few minutes, you can whip up dry pasta shapes and leave them in the pantry whenever you feel like cooking up a batch—no need to stock up on store-bought packets when you can make your all-natural semolina pasta at home.

Semolina is coarse wheat flour that home cooks use to make pasta dough. It’s also great for adding texture to cookies and other baked goods. The key thing to keep in mind when using semolina is that it’s very absorbent—this means that if you use too much water when mixing up your dough, it will become too sticky and difficult to work with. So start with a small amount of water before adding more if needed!

Watch Semolina Pasta Dough video recipe:

How to Make Pasta with SEMOLINA FLOUR

semolina pasta dough

Vincenzo’s Top Tips To Make Semolina Pasta Dough

Storing the Fresh Pasta

If you plan on eating only some of the fresh pasta right away, you can save it for later. Transfer the pasta from the rack to an airtight container. Refrigerate or freeze the pasta.

Give the Pasta Dough Enough Time to Rest

Wrap the dough ball in plastic wrap, put it in a plastic bag, or cover it with a kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rest for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out. This rest period allows the flour to absorb and hydrate the liquid. It also allows the gluten to unwind.

semolina pasta dough

Semolina Pasta Dough

Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Wooden bench
  • knife
  • Butter knife if making orrecchiete

Ingredients

  • 300 ml Warm water, 1.26 cups
  • 500 grams Semolina flour, 17.63 oz
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • Semolina pasta dough has 2 ingredients, so start with great quality semolina.
  • Pour 500g/17.63oz semolina on a wooden bench, create a well, add water, a little bit at a time and mix with the semolina pinching the sides in, then mix it through, creating a paste-like consistency.
  • Repeat this until the semolina pasta dough has completely absorbed the water.
  • Start to knead the dough to bring it altogether and help improve the semolina pasta dough consistency.
  • When kneading, press using the palm of your hand, toward the front, fold back then repeat this motion.
  • Add more water if it feels too dry and keep kneading.
  • If it feels sticky, add another sprinkle of semolina flour and knead through.
  • Let it rest for 10-15 minutes.
  • TO MAKE ORRECCHIETE:
  • Cut a piece of the semolina pasta dough and roll it into a snake like shape.
  • Cut this into small pillows, then using a butter knife, press down on it and gently roll it forward.
  • Shape it around your finger pressing in the middle so it becomes wider.
  • This will create the ear like pasta shape, known as orrecchiete!
  • TO MAKE CAVATELLI:
  • Follow step 1 & 2 of how to make orrecchiete.
  • Don’t peel it off and press in with your finger, just leave it how it is.
  • This semolina pasta dough can be used to make pasta to eat right away, or, leave it out for 48-72hr on a pizza tray or drying rack before you store it in your pantry.

Video

Author: Vincenzo’s Plate

How to Serve Semolina Pasta Dough

Depending on the pasta shape you make, visit https://www.vincenzosplate.com/recipe-type/pasta/ and choose a recipe! Choices for sauces to accompany your pasta are endless so try one of mine, or let me know your favourite. Just remember semolina is hard durum wheat, so cooking time is longer than usual and lengthens the thicker your pasta shape is.

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Recipe Rating




16 responses

  1. Kevin Williams
    August 9, 2022

    Fantastic video’s and very informative, I will not buy shop pasta again after following your egg and semolina pastas. Could please make a video of what the egg pasta recipes is best used for and what the best recipes use for semolina pasta is used for. Cheers keep up the good work.from Scotland.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      May 3, 2023

      I’m glad you found the videos informative and helpful. As for your request, I can definitely create a video that explains the best uses for egg pasta and semolina pasta.

      Reply
  2. Susan
    December 21, 2022

    5 stars
    So easy! (once you get the hang of it)

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      April 28, 2023

      Making homemade pasta can seem intimidating at first, but with practice, it becomes easier and easier. Semolina flour can be a great choice for pasta dough, as it creates a slightly firmer texture than all-purpose flour. Keep up the good work in the kitchen!

      Reply
      1. Gi
        June 16, 2023

        5 stars
        Please what is the best brand of semolina? I could not understand Is Caputo OK? It is available in the Usa

        Reply
        1. Vincenzo’s Plate
          July 17, 2023

          Yes, Caputo is a good brand of semolina. It is made from durum wheat, which is a high-protein wheat that gives semolina its strength and elasticity. Caputo is also available in the United States, so it is a convenient option.

          Reply
  3. Carlos
    August 1, 2023

    5 stars
    I love making it, and have make it a couple of times, But i always get this chewy, rubbery texture. Dont know what i am doing wrong

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      August 2, 2023

      I’m glad you enjoy making the semolina pasta dough, but sorry to hear about the chewy texture. The issue might be due to over-kneading, not letting the dough rest enough, rolling it too thin, or using too much semolina flour. Try adjusting one factor at a time, like kneading less, resting the dough, rolling to a uniform thickness, or using a mix of flours. Remember not to overcook the pasta, and with some experimentation, you’ll soon achieve the perfect texture. Happy cooking! 🍝😊

      Reply
  4. Adam
    September 21, 2023

    I love using semolina dough for extruded pasta shapes. It’s recommended by a lot of the pasta books I have.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      September 29, 2023

      I’m glad to hear that you love using semolina dough for extruded pasta shapes. It’s a great choice for this type of pasta because it has a high gluten content, which gives the pasta a strong structure and prevents it from sticking together.

      Reply
  5. Matt
    June 24, 2024

    5 stars
    Thanks for your videos! I’ve tried making your foccacia, egg pasta, and semolina recipes and all have been great. I do have a question on the semolina pasta though – all the example videos I’ve found all show making hand-shaped noodles. Is it possible / desirable to shape the semolina noodles using a pasta machine? I tried this just now, and found the dough much trickier to work with than the egg dough in the machine. It seemed too soft, and stretched out too quickly in the machine – my machine has six different thicknesses, and I had to stop on the second one. I did manage to create a nice thin sheet and cranked out some noodles on the fettuccine setting, and while tasty, they didn’t have that nice al dente bite of dried pasta. Is that firm al dente mouth feel only possible if after making the fresh semolina I then dry it for a few days??

    Thanks again for the great videos!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      June 24, 2024

      I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying the videos and recipes! When it comes to using a pasta machine for semolina pasta dough, it can indeed be a bit more challenging than egg pasta dough. Semolina dough is generally firmer and less elastic, which might explain why it felt tricky in your machine.

      If you’re aiming for that classic al dente feel, adjusting the water content in your dough might help, making it a bit drier so it holds up better in the machine. Also, experimenting with stopping at thicker settings might give you the bite you’re looking for. Let me know how it goes, and keep having fun with your pasta making!

      Reply
      1. Matt
        June 25, 2024

        Perfect – thanks for the tips!

        Reply
        1. Vincenzo’s Plate
          June 25, 2024

          You’re so welcome! If you have any more questions or need further assistance, just let me know. 😊

          Reply
  6. David Marini
    April 12, 2026

    Do you have a video making semolina pasta with an extruder? I am having a difficult time with mine. Should I be using less or more water. Ie, the dough ball more or less pliable.
    When I try to make semolina spaghetti, the extruder has a tough time pushing the dough through. Mine is a kitchen aid stand mixer with extruder attachment.

    Thanks so much for the help
    Great videos! Keep up teaching the world how to make great pastas!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      April 13, 2026

      Ciao David! Grazie mille, I’m so glad you’re enjoying the videos!
      Now, about the extruder… I don’t have a video using one (yet!), but I can definitely help you.

      The problem you’re describing is very common, and most of the time it comes down to the dough being too dry.

      For extruders, the dough should be:
      Firm, but slightly pliable
      Not smooth like hand-rolled pasta
      More like a crumbly dough that just comes together when pressed

      If it’s too dry, the machine will struggle and push very hard, exactly what you’re experiencing.

      Try this:
      • Add a tiny bit more water, little by little
      • Mix well before testing again
      • The dough should hold when squeezed, but not stick to your hands

      Also important:
      Do not overwork the dough
      Let it rest 10–15 minutes before extruding

      KitchenAid extruders are good, but they need the right dough consistency to work properly, otherwise… they suffer! 😅

      You’re very close, just adjust the hydration slightly and you’ll see a big difference.

      Keep going, you’re doing great… and one day I might need to make that video just for you! 😄

      Reply

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