8 Cookbooks For The Aspiring Pasta Maker

Pasta lovers, rejoice! Have you dreamed of learning to handcraft orecchiette, the ‘little ears’ pasta from Puglia? Or how about impressing your guests with a flavored pasta dough like spinach tagliatelle?

Crafted by chefs, experts, and Nonna’s from around Italy, these books have tips for all skill levels, from beginners to experienced pasta makers. Within these pages, you’ll find mouth-watering recipes, helpful tips, tricks, and the history behind your favorite pasta shapes and iconic Italian dishes.

Get ready to explore your beloved Italian pasta dishes’ flavors, shapes, and fillings like never before. Let’s dive in!

Pasta Every Day: Make It, Shape It, Sauce It, Eat It

By Meryl Feinstein (Pasta Social Club)

Put on your apron and join Meryl Feinstein in her kitchen with her book, Pasta Every Day. No matter if you’ve just started cooking or if you already can’t get enough of making pasta, this cookbook is for you. Feinstein (behind the Instagram account Pasta Social Club) offers easy-to-follow guides on whipping up a range of pasta doughs, shapes, fillings, and sauces.

Dive into the fun of pasta-making every day with this cookbook at your side, turning simple ingredients into mouth-watering meals you and your loved ones will enjoy.

The Pasta Codex: 1001 Recipes

If your culinary adventures thus far have left you craving more, the English translation of Vincenzo Buonassisi’s Il Codice della Pasta will prove to be the treasure trove you seek. This cookbook hosts a grand banquet of 1,001 distinct recipes, each paying homage to Italy’s diverse pasta offerings. From fresh to dried pasta, The Pasta Codex leaves no stone unturned.

Pasta Grannies: The Official Cookbook: The Secrets of Italy’s Best Home Cooks

Pasta Grannies is an endearing manifestation of a culinary journey across Italy’s kitchens, initially gaining popularity through its YouTube channel that features various matriarchs and their descendants from all corners of Italy. This cookbook connects you intrinsically to their heartwarming stories and age-old recipes.

This book reveals the traditional gastronomy that graces Italian family dining tables – from hand-rolled spaghetti to cinnamon-scented tubes. Pasta Grannies offer an indispensable preservation of rich culinary heritage.

Pasta Masterclass: Recipes for Spectacular Pasta Doughs, Shapes, Fillings, and Sauces from The Pasta Man

By Mateo Zielonka

More than a mere cookbook, Pasta Masterclass is more than just a cookbook; it’s your guide to pasta innovation. Offering over 30 new pasta shapes and 40 impactful recipes, you’ll craft visually stunning, delicious pasta dishes.

Mastering Pasta: The Art and Practice of Handmade Pasta, Gnocchi, and Risotto

By Marc Vetri and David Joachim

Award-winning chef Marc Vetri and David Joachim shed light on the world of Italian cuisine in their masterpiece, Mastering Pasta. This ultimate guide details the inner workings of crafting pasta, gnocchi, and risotto, leading you from a bright-eyed rookie to a distinguished pasta maestro.

Encyclopedia of Pasta

Oretta Zanini De Vita, an acclaimed Italian culinary historian, invites us to explore Italy’s rich history of pasta through her comprehensive compilation, the Encyclopedia of Pasta. This guide takes readers into the deep lands of pasta – a magnificent compendium of its shapes, names, and origins – allowing pasta enthusiasts to broaden their understanding and appreciation of this Italian masterpiece.

Pasta: The Spirit and Craft of Italy’s Greatest Food, with Recipes

Here, Missy Robbins of Lilia and Misi teamed up with Talia Baiocchi to take us through the soulful journey of pasta creation. Pasta is a tribute to pasta’s transformative journey – from primal water-flour mixture to cherished, nourishing meals. It’s an intimate experience with a sprinkle of culture, history, and tradition.

Flour + Water: Pasta by Thomas McNaughton and Paolo Lucchesi

To elevate your pasta-making prowess, you can turn to Flour + Water: Pasta, which carries the culinary expertise of Chef Thomas McNaughton and Paolo Lucchesi, derived from their successful Italian restaurant, Flour + Water. As you delve into the fine craft of pasta-making, you’ll learn to create unforgettable dishes that transport you to the heart of Italy.