Language
Portuguese, English, French, Italian, Spanish
Duration
2-3h / 1 day
Difficulty
Beginner
Next Date
29/04/2026

Mother’s Day pasta workshop in Lisbon for anyone who wants to spend the day making something genuinely delicious together. Hosted by Sara Di Rocco at her home in Lisbon, this hands-on session teaches you to make fresh pasta or gnocchetti entirely from scratch using just flour, eggs, nonna’s favourite Imperia machine and your own hands. You choose your pasta style, you choose your sauce, and then you sit down together to eat the meal you just made, paired with wine, beer or soft drinks. A recipe card follows after the workshop so you can do it again at home whenever you want. The session runs under the watchful supervision of Sara’s cat Covinha. Please flag any allergies or concerns in advance.

Sara’s approach to Italian cooking is rooted in the belief that the best meals are the ones you make yourself, and this workshop reflects that fully. You learn proper dough consistency and kneading technique, how to use the Imperia machine to roll pasta to the right thickness, and the specific hand techniques for whichever pasta style you choose, cutting tagliatelle ribbons, pressing chitarrina through wires, filling and sealing ravioli, or shaping gnocchetti ridges. The sauce or filling is prepared alongside the pasta, and everything comes together at the table in a genuinely traditional Italian home cooking experience.

What you’ll learn

🍝 How to make fresh pasta dough from scratch using flour and eggs

🍝 How to use the traditional Imperia hand crank pasta machine for rolling

🍝 Hand shaping techniques for your chosen pasta style

🍝 Sauce or filling preparation matching your chosen pasta

🍝 How to cook fresh pasta to perfect al dente texture

Choose your pasta style

🍝 Tagliatelle: classic ribbon pasta

🍝 Chitarrina: spaghetti style pasta

🍝 Ravioli: filled pasta parcels

🍝 Gnocchetti: little gnocchi dumplings

Choose your sauce or filling

🎃 Pumpkin, caramelised onions, sage, walnuts and gorgonzola

🥩 Ragù alla Bolognese (meat or vegetarian)

🍅 Classic tomato sauce with basil

🍆 Aubergine, tomato and burrata

🥚 Carbonara

What’s included

🍷 All ingredients and kitchen equipment

🍷 Wine, beer and soft drinks throughout

🍷 A full meal of the pasta you made

🍷 Recipe card sent after the workshop

What you leave with

A lifelong pasta-making skill, a full Italian meal eaten at the table, and a recipe card that means you can bring the same dish into your own kitchen whenever you want.

I am Sara Di Rocco and alongside my sourdough, kimchi, bone broth, tea blending, tea meditation, pizza and pasta sauce workshops, this is one of the sessions I love most. Fresh pasta rewards understanding the process, and the Imperia machine rewards patience, which makes this a perfect afternoon for a day that deserves to feel unhurried and genuinely celebratory.

Sessions run with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 10 participants. Two tickets must be purchased for the workshop to be confirmed. Come hungry and curious, everything else is provided.

Location

Flexible and upon request. Enquire Now.

FAQ

Do I need any experience or special equipment to join?

None at all — this workshop is designed for complete beginners. No prior cooking experience, and nothing to bring. Everything you need is provided and the host will guide you through each step. Just wear clothes you're comfortable getting flour on.

What is the difference between pasta and gnocchi — which should I choose?

Fresh pasta is made from flour and eggs, shaped into your chosen format — tagliatelle, chitarrina or ravioli. Gnocchi are soft potato dumplings with a lighter, pillowy texture. Not sure which to pick? Just message me and I'll help you decide before the day based on your taste preferences.

Can the sauces be made vegetarian or adapted for dietary restrictions?

Yes — the ragù alla Bolognese is available in a vegetarian version, and several other sauce options are naturally meat-free. If you have specific dietary needs or allergies, simply let the host know in advance so they can prepare accordingly. Vegan will not be possible as the pasta contains eggs.