Rainbow Pasta Recipe – A Vibrant Way to Eat!
This rainbow pasta recipe is so fun to do with kids! It takes making homemade pasta to the next level with all the vibrant colors! Keep on reading to find out how we make it!
A Rainbow Pasta Recipe to Wow the Kids!
We loved taking homemade pasta to the next level with this rainbow pasta recipe! I love to get the kid’s in the kitchen, and they love to be there. So when your kiddo asks to try and make rainbow pasta, my first reaction is, let’s do this!
I’m not going to beat around the bush with this — making rainbow pasta, especially when you have all the colors on one strand, is a long process. I repeat, it is SO much easier to cook a box of dry pasta and add food coloring.
That being said, there is so much to enjoy and learn from the process — the sensory experience of mixing the flour and egg, the fine motor of threading the pasta through the maker, the gross motor of cranking the pasta through it, patterning the colors in rainbow order, and of course, the enjoying of food you have labored over with love.
Watch This Rainbow Pasta Recipe in Action!
In this video you’ll see the colorful explosion that took over our kitchen!
We enjoy using an old school homemade pastamaking machine – one that requires you to flatten and cut pasta through a hand crank.
It’s a truly beautiful process with a delicious plate of pasta to enjoy at the end!
All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.
Watch This Rainbow Pasta Recipe in Action!
In this video you’ll see the colorful explosion that took over our kitchen!
We enjoy using an old school homemade pastamaking machine – one that requires you to flatten and cut pasta through a hand crank.
It’s a truly beautiful process with a delicious plate of pasta to enjoy at the end!
All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.
Tips for Cooking with Kids
Dealing with the Mess. Cooking with kids can get messy, but overtime, with practice it will get better and better. Making a mess is an essential step for kids to ultimately learn how to NOT make mess!
Kitchen Stool. While not necessary, a kitchen stool is a great way to get kids at the right safe level for helping in the kitchen!
Homemade Pasta Without the Color. If making homemade pasta colorful is too many steps, don’t be discouraged. Start out by just making plain pasta with the homemade pasta-making machine before jumping into the extra step of adding color!
Coloring. If you do decide to make the pasta colorful, try and find a plant-based food coloring to keep things natural!
Materials
- 1 Cups Flour
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Cups Flour
- 2 Eggs
- Food Coloring
- Pasta Maker
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
For each color, 2 cups of flour to a bowl. Make a hole or well in the center of the flour, crack the eggs into it, and add a squirt of food coloring. Use a fork to slowly stir the egg and flour mixture together.
Step 2
Knead the dough, first in the bowl, then transfer to a floured surface and continue kneading. Add more flour until elastic and not sticky. Split into 4 pieces and continue to knead.
Step 3
Roll out the dough, we use a hand crank machine and roll as thin as the second to last setting (the thinnest setting often results in pasta that gets stuck together during the cooking process).
Step 4
Cut the pasta using the pasta attachment or a knife if you prefer a handcut width!
Step 5
Boil water and cook the pasta for no more than a few minutes. Add salt and sauce to taste. Enjoy!
Note: To make the pasta so that each strand has the entire spectrum of colors on it, you’ll have to do the extra labor intensive step of laying each thin colorful piece on top of a large flat plain piece of pasta. Use your fingers to dampen the flat piece as you add the colors so that they adhere. Then, run the entire piece through the machine 2 times before cutting the pasta.
Step 1
For each color, 2 cups of flour to a bowl. Make a hole or well in the center of the flour, crack the eggs into it, and add a squirt of food coloring. Use a fork to slowly stir the egg and flour mixture together.
Step 2
Knead the dough, first in the bowl, then transfer to a floured surface and continue kneading. Add more flour until elastic and not sticky. Split into 4 pieces and continue to knead.
Step 3
Roll out the dough, we use a hand crank machine and roll as thin as the second to last setting (the thinnest setting often results in pasta that gets stuck together during the cooking process).
Step 4
Cut the pasta using the pasta attachment or a knife if you prefer a handcut width!
Step 5
Boil water and cook the pasta for no more than a few minutes. Add salt and sauce to taste. Enjoy!
Note: To make the pasta so that each strand has the entire spectrum of colors on it, you’ll have to do the extra labor intensive step of laying each thin colorful piece on top of a large flat plain piece of pasta. Use your fingers to dampen the flat piece as you add the colors so that they adhere. Then, run the entire piece through the machine 2 times before cutting the pasta.
The Importance of Teaching Your Children to Cook
Cooking skills are a great way to teach life skills with educational value. Not only does cooking show them that they can make great food at home, but it helps them learn math skills and planning skills, too.
When you teach your child to cook, work on learning measurements and the importance of following recipe directions as well. These are life skills that they can use long after they leave the house.
If your kiddo loves making pasta dough, they’ll love making play dough too – check out our easy no-cook recipe!
The Importance of Teaching Your Children to Cook
Cooking skills are a great way to teach life skills with educational value. Not only does cooking show them that they can make great food at home, but it helps them learn math skills and planning skills, too.
When you teach your child to cook, work on learning measurements and the importance of following recipe directions as well. These are life skills that they can use long after they leave the house.
If your kiddo loves making pasta dough, they’ll love making play dough too – check out our easy no-cook recipe!
Sensory Bases to Explore
Homemade pasta dough is definitely rich in providing a sensory experience. Here are some non-food related sensory bases you can explore as well!
Sensory Sand
Sensory sand is moldable! This bulk pack comes with enough to fill an entire bin for lasting fun! Bonus points for including a storage bin!
Modelling Dough
This modelling dough compound NEVER dries out! It is a fun texture – it is stretchy like play dough, moldable like kinetic sand, and odorless.
Premium Play Dough
This play dough is the cream of the crop! It is ridiculously silky and smooth, lasts for 6 months, and is scented!
The Ultimate Slime and Putty Kit
This kit includes 8 fascinating varieties of slime and putty, including premade putty, magnetic slime, glow in the dark putty, and so much more.
What’s Next?
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Flower Activity for Preschoolers with Free Printable!
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