The simple ingredients – flour, water and a pinch of salt – transform into a canvas for creativity when kneaded by skilled hands. The rhythmic motion of rolling out round, thin discs becomes a meditative practice. The tactile connection between the dough and your hands, the softness and resilience of the mixture, is a form of therapeutic artistry.
Beyond the therapeutic benefits, kneading dough is a heave-ho that brings in manual work into the domestic space. It preserves traditions through culinary wisdom down generations. The pleasures of kneading the flour into ‘just the right texture’ is intuitive, beyond the arc of algorithm.
Dough-kneading, and then pressing it into the two-dimensional, is one part pottery, one part culinary art, and one part plain mucking around. It is a celebration of shaping things to one’s will. So, roll up your sleeves, dust your hands with flour, and feel kneady.
