04 March 2008

okara pasta •





Okara is a great addition to a bread recipe, but I was curious to see how it would work with pasta. I experimented with making a pasta dough without egg and using the okara as a binder instead. I was content with the outcome. I have since made lasagne with the dough, and it was mighty tasty. 

Okara Pasta •

In a large mixing bowl combine:

3/4 cup unbleached white flour
3/4 cup semolina flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a small mixing bowl whisk together:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup wet okara (this is referring to the okara straight from your machine)
2 tablespoons water (optional; depending on how wet your okara is, you might not need it)

Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients, and pour wet ingredients into it. Mix to make a stiff dough. If the dough seems too dry, add the optional water. If it is too wet, add more flour, two tablespoons at a time. Knead for 10 minutes. Tuck a damp kitchen towel on top of the dough, and let it rest for 20 minutes. Roll out on lightly floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Or use your pasta maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

If you are using the dough for lasagne, DO NOT BOIL first, just add to your recipe as is. 

Fill a large pot with water, add 1/2 teaspoon oil, and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook until “al dente”. Because the pasta is fresh, it will cook incredibly fast. When the pasta floats to the surface— test it, it is usually ready.