Italian Pasta Cooking Class in the Heart of Florence

In the historic centre of Florence, just metres from the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s wonderful David, there’s a very special culinary experience: an Italian pasta course!

The cooking class is an unusual and fun experience, as you join other visitors to enjoy preparing some of Italy’s most famous pastas. Italian pasta, loved all over the world, will come to life in your hands. Three hand-made pasta shapes and their sauces, made by you from meat and vegetables for fillings with fabulous flavour combinations, plus a traditional Italian dessert, are at the heart of your culinary experience. Included in your experience is unlimited water and excellent Tuscan wine, which you can sip as you sample the dishes you’ve prepared.

In fact, at the end of the class, you’ll sit down with your fellow cooks and enjoy the fruits of your labour. In the beautiful city of Florence, you’ll discover the goodness of fresh, home-made pasta and the magic that happens when this Italian speciality is accompanied by the right sauces.

Don’t forget the recipes: our cooking school will make sure you remember what you’ve learnt by giving you the recipes to take away so you can prepare the dishes at home.

What to expect:

Hand-made fresh pasta

One thing is for sure: you will get your hands dirty during this cooking course, and not just a little! Your hands will prepare the pasta, which you’ll then taste. You’ll enjoy kneading the dough, made of flour and water, or flour and eggs. You’ll learn how to use the pasta roller, either to create thin sheets to fill with tasty ingredients, or to cut and shape long pasta, maltagliati, or gnudi.

Ravioli

Expertise in sealing filled pastas is something that comes with time and experience, but during the class, you’ll learn some secrets that will set you on the path to becoming a real master of ravioli. The filling – which should be flavourful and just moist enough so it doesn’t leak during cooking – varies according to the season: you can make the classic spinach and ricotta filling, but you can also try something special, perhaps using pumpkins or other seasonal vegetables for mouth-watering results.

Gnocchi

Gnocchi is an ancient dish, typical of Italian cuisine. It’s a simple but very nutritious potato-based recipe. It is also a versatile dish, as you can prepare a gluten-free version, making it the ideal solution for any situation. You’ll discover the secrets of gnocchi, but more importantly, you’ll learn the right amounts and proportions to ensure your gnocchi are perfect, not too hard and not too soft. You’ll be captivated by their delicious flavour and texture.

Sauces and dressings

Every pasta shape has its corresponding sauce. But how to make sure you don’t get it wrong? You’ll find out during your Italian pasta class. You can experiment with the best seasonal sauces, typical of the Tuscany region. At certain times of year, you might come across the famous Sugo all’Aglione, an essential sauce in Tuscan homes; or you might prepare a traditional Italian ragout. So many recipes for this traditional sauce have been handed down through the generations: discover the version made in Florence.

Dessert

You’ll be amazed by how easy it is to make delicious Italian desserts. Depending on the season, you’ll try your hand at a range of delicious recipes. It might be tiramisu or panna cotta, to give a couple of examples. Italian desserts are tasty, healthy and easy to prepare. You can learn their secrets and recipes, and impress your guests when they come over for dinner!