**Potato Gnocchi: A Delectable Treat for Pasta Lovers**
Indulge in the delightful world of potato gnocchi, a traditional Italian dish that tantalizes taste buds with its soft, pillowy texture and versatile flavors. Originating from the northern regions of Italy, gnocchi has become a culinary sensation worldwide, enjoyed for its unique texture and endless culinary possibilities. Prepared with a combination of mashed potatoes, flour, and eggs, these little dumplings are often shaped into small, round pillows or ridges, then cooked by boiling or pan-frying. The result is a tender and chewy delicacy that can be paired with a variety of sauces, from classic tomato sauce to pesto or creamy Alfredo. Join us on a culinary journey as we explore the art of making potato gnocchi from scratch, with step-by-step instructions and additional recipes that will elevate your gnocchi experience to new heights. Discover the secrets of creating the perfect dough, shaping techniques, and cooking methods to achieve the ultimate gnocchi. Along the way, we'll also explore creative fillings and sauces to transform your gnocchi into a symphony of flavors. Get ready to embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you craving more!
CHEF JOHN'S SWEET POTATO GNOCCHI
Because I was careful not to work too much flour into these gnocchi, they didn't come out super dense, dry, and doughy. They stayed nice, moist, and tender. The key here is making them nice and small. The earthy, subtle sweetness from the potato works so well with the bacon, the little touch of rosemary, and butter, making these a great appetizer, side dish, or main.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork
Time 1h10m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Prick a sweet potato all over with a sharp knife and microwave until very soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Let sit until cool enough to handle.
- Cut potato in half and scoop flesh into a bowl. Mash or blend until smooth. Add ricotta cheese, egg, kosher salt, and cayenne; mix with a spoon until smooth and combined. Stir in flour until mixture comes together into a sticky ball of dough, adding more flour as needed.
- Transfer to a floured surface and knead gently, adding flour as needed, until no longer sticky. Divide into 8 portions. Roll into ropes about 1/2-inch thick, using flour as needed. Dust ropes with flour and cut with a bench scraper into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer pieces onto a sheet pan and let dry on the pan for 15 to 20 minutes, or refrigerate until needed.
- While gnocchi dry, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crisp, 7 to 10 minutes. Add butter and cook until lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in rosemary. Reserve until needed.
- Stir gnocchi into the pot of boiling water and cook until they float to the top, 3 to 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer cooked gnocchi to the sauce.
- Heat over medium to medium-high heat, coat with sauce, and season with salt. Turn off heat and stir in 1 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Transfer to a warm serving bowl and top with additional Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 237.2 calories, Carbohydrate 35.8 g, Cholesterol 40.5 mg, Fat 7.1 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 7.1 g, SaturatedFat 3.9 g, Sodium 530.7 mg, Sugar 2.5 g
CHEF JOHN'S BASIL RICOTTA GNOCCHI
This technique turns out beautifully light, tender gnocchi every time and are just as good, if not better, than the classic potato-based gnocchi. And much easier. Plus you can make them ahead of time and brown them in butter before serving.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Main Dish Recipes Dumpling Recipes
Time 1h20m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Briefly blanch basil leaves in simmering water, about 20 seconds. Transfer immediately to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking. Drain on towels. Place basil in bowl of a blender. Add eggs. Blend until basil is blended in and mixture achieves an even green color with flecks of basil.
- Place ricotta in a mixing bowl. Add basil/egg mixture, salt, cayenne, Parmesan cheese, and flour. Thoroughly mix together using a spatula; whisk mixture to ensure ingredient are evenly blended. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and firm, about 2 hours.
- Scoop out a small portion of dough using a teaspoon. Using a second spoon, shape into a rounded oval. Repeat until you have enough gnocchi for a batch, about 6 or so.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a simmer. Drop shaped gnocchi in batches into pot as you form them. After a minute or so they will rise to the surface. Continue simmering until they spring back to the touch when you remove one from the water to test it, 2 to 3 more minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Optional step: Melt butter in a skillet until bubbling. Add cooked gnocchi and brown on each side. Serve with a dusting of grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of the butter from the pan.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 323.5 calories, Carbohydrate 20.2 g, Cholesterol 144 mg, Fat 18.3 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 19.3 g, SaturatedFat 10.5 g, Sodium 905.5 mg, Sugar 0.6 g
CHEF JOHN'S SHAKSHUKA
This North African one-dish-meal is so fast, easy, and delicious. Be sure to cook your sauce until the veggies are nice and soft and sweet. Once the eggs go in, you can finish covered on the stove, or just pop the pan into a hot oven until they cook to your liking.
Provided by Chef John
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes Vegetarian
Time 45m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and mushrooms. Sprinkle with salt. Cook and stir until mushrooms release all of their liquid and start to brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in bell peppers and jalapeno pepper. Cook and stir until peppers begin to soften up, about 5 minutes. Season with cumin, paprika, turmeric, black pepper, and cayenne. Stir and cook to "wake up" the flavors, about 1 minute. Pour in crushed tomatoes and water. Adjust heat to medium and simmer uncovered until veggies are softened and sweet, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes. Add more water if sauce becomes too thick.
- Make a depression in the sauce for each egg with a large spoon. Crack egg into a small ramekin and slide gently into each indentation; repeat with the rest of the eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until eggs are to your desired doneness.
- Top with feta cheese and parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 185.2 calories, Carbohydrate 14.9 g, Cholesterol 188.8 mg, Fat 10.8 g, Fiber 3.8 g, Protein 9.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 669.8 mg, Sugar 2.8 g
ROMAN-STYLE GNOCCHI
Gnocchi alla Romana are as delicious as they are virtually unknown. I feel like I've eaten a fair amount of Italian food, and I've been to Rome, but it wasn't until late in life that I discovered these wonderful, baked semolina dumplings.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Main Dish Recipes Dumpling Recipes
Time 1h25m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Line a rimmed sheet pan with plastic wrap.
- Place milk and salt in a saucepan. Bring almost to a simmer over medium-high heat. As soon as bubbles start to break the surface of the milk, gradually whisk in the semolina. Whisk until semolina becomes thick, about 20 seconds. Reduce heat to medium-low; continue stirring with a wooden spoon until very thick, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add butter, grated cheese, and egg yolks. Stir quickly to prevent the yolks from cooking.
- Transfer mixture to prepared pan and spread out evenly. Cover with another piece of plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm enough to cut, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Brush a round, shallow baking dish with butter.
- Using a round 2 3/4-inch cookie cutter, cut out circles of the semolina dough. Arrange in a circular overlapping pattern in the prepared baking dish.
- With your damp hands, form the scraps of dough into a small ball. Flatten and place between 2 pieces of plastic wrap to flatten to the same thickness of the other dough. Cut out a few more rounds and arrange in center of circle.
- Drizzle melted butter over gnocchi and brush it over them evenly. Sprinkle with a pinch of cayenne pepper and a generous dusting of grated cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 334.9 calories, Carbohydrate 9.5 g, Cholesterol 176 mg, Fat 27.4 g, Protein 13.3 g, SaturatedFat 16.6 g, Sodium 789.2 mg, Sugar 8.8 g
GNOCCHI
There are a number of tricks in this basic recipe from Laura Sbrana, the mother of the chef Marco Canora: Start with baking potatoes and get rid of as much moisture as you can. Use less flour than you would expect. For a light and airy gnocchi, work the dough as little as possible so that it doesn't become glutinous which would result in a heavy and chewy result.
Provided by Tom Colicchio
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 3h
Yield 8 main-dish or 16 side-dish servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a sheet pan with a 1-inch layer of kosher salt. Place potatoes on salt, and bake 1 1/2 hours. Remove potatoes, and cut in half horizontally. Deeply score flesh in a crisscross pattern. Place halves on racks and allow to cool to room temperature, at least 30 minutes. Scoop flesh into a large bowl.
- Press potato flesh through a fine ricer or sieve, and weigh it. You need 2 1/4 pounds.
- Spread riced potatoes on a clean work surface, and shape loosely into a flat mound. Drizzle with egg yolks. Sprinkle with pepper. Cut into potato mound at 1-inch intervals with a pastry scraper, spatula or cleaver, to incorporate egg yolks. Sprinkle with flour as you go. Work mound by cutting and folding, but not kneading. Sprinkle with flour in handfuls until potato mixture feels fairly dry and is no longer sticky, and a small piece can be rolled easily into a ball.
- Line two sheet pans with parchment. Lightly dust with flour.
- Clean work surface with a scraper, and lightly dust with flour. Shape potato mixture into a loaf about 1 1/2 inches high, 4 inches wide and 12 inches long. Cut 1 1/2-inch slice from the loaf with a scraper or knife. Roll into a rope about 1/2 inch thick and 30 inches long. Cut at 1-inch intervals. Smooth ends of each piece lightly with fingertips. Place finished gnocchi on a paper-lined pan. Repeat with remaining mixture.
- Bring a large pot of water, with 1 heaping tablespoon salt for each quart, to a boil.
- Place ice cubes in a large bowl, add 4 quarts cold water, and place a large colander in the bowl so that it fills with ice water.
- Slide gnocchi from one baking sheet into boiling water. After about 90 seconds, gnocchi will begin floating to the surface. Remove to colander with a slotted spoon or skimmer. Repeat with second batch.
- Reline baking sheets with clean parchment. With a skimmer, transfer cold gnocchi to baking sheets. Cooked gnocchi can be served at once (see next step for a quick butter sauce, or toss cooked gnocchi with a warm sauce of your choosing), set aside for several hours or frozen in an airtight container for future use.
- For a quick butter sauce, melt butter in a small saucepan. Whisk in 1 cup water until emulsified. (If not using entire batch of gnocchi, use proportionately less butter sauce.) Transfer sauce to 1 or 2 skillets large enough to hold gnocchi in a single layer. Add gnocchi, and cook over medium heat until butter starts to bubble and gnocchi are warmed through. Dust with cheese, and serve. Frozen gnocchi can be heated in butter without thawing.
POTATO GNOCCHI
Gnocchi should be made in one continuous process: cook the potatoes, make the dough, form the gnocchi. For more gnocchi serving suggestions, see our Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage and Potato Gnocchi with Wild Mushroom Sauce.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Vegetarian Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Place unpeeled potatoes in a large saucepan, and cover by 2 inches with cold water. Add 1 tablespoon salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium high, and cook until tender, about 40 minutes.
- Meanwhile, fill another large saucepan with cold water, add 1 tablespoon salt, and bring to a boil. Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and water. (These are for cooking and cooling the gnocchi.) Drain potatoes, and peel while still hot, holding them with a clean kitchen towel. Pass potatoes through a potato ricer or a food mill fitted with the finest disk onto a lightly floured work surface. Make a well in the center of the mound of potatoes, and sprinkle flour evenly over the potatoes. Break eggs into the well, and add 2 1/2 teaspoons salt and the pepper. Using a fork, lightly beat eggs, and incorporate the remaining ingredients to form a dough. Knead lightly on the work surface until the dough is soft and smooth.
- Lightly dust the work surface with flour. Divide dough into 4 balls, and shape each ball into a rope 3/4 inch in diameter. Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces. Shape the gnocchi: Hold a dinner fork in one hand, and use your index finger to hold a cut edge of a piece of gnocchi against the curved back of the tines of the fork. Press into the center of the gnocchi with your index finger to make a deep indentation. While you are pressing the piece against the tines, flip it away over the tip of the fork, allowing the gnocchi to drop to the work surface. If the gnocchi becomes sticky, dip fork and index finger into flour. The finished gnocchi will have ridges on one side and a depression on the other. At this point, gnocchi can be refrigerated on a lightly floured baking sheet for several hours before boiling and serving.
- To cook gnocchi, drop half of them into the boiling water, and cook until they float to the surface, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, and place in the ice bath for about 20 seconds. Transfer from ice bath, to a colander, and repeat process with the other half of the dough.
SIMPLE POTATO GNOCCHI
These simple gnocchi are made from russet potatoes, flour, and egg. Serve them tossed with butter as a side dish or with a more substantial sauce for a main course.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Vegetarian Recipes
Time 2h
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- In a large pot, bring potatoes to a boil in salted water; reduce to a rapid simmer and cook until potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, 35 to 40 minutes. Lightly dust two parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets with flour; set aside. Drain potatoes and peel while still hot with a paring knife (use a thick, dry kitchen towel or pot holder to hold them). Immediately pass potatoes through a ricer onto a work surface. Let cool completely.
- Sprinkle potatoes with flour and 2 teaspoons salt, then top with egg. With your hands, work flour and egg into a dough.
- Knead dough until smooth but not elastic, dusting with flour if it becomes too sticky, 4 minutes. Do not overwork dough.
- Divide dough into 8 portions. Roll each portion into a rope (1/2 inch thick and 24 inches long). Cut each rope into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Gently roll each dough piece against the back tines of a fork to make ridges, then arrange in a single layer on prepared baking sheets.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In batches, add a few handfuls gnocchi and cook until most have floated to top, 2 minutes. With a wire-mesh spider or a slotted spoon, transfer gnocchi immediately to a sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 220 g, Fat 1 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 6 g
CHEF JOHN'S POTATO AND CHEESE PIEROGI
If I had to pick a favorite recipe of all time, I think it might be this potato and cheese pierogi recipe handed down to me by my Polish grandmother.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Pierogi
Time 3h15m
Yield 7
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Prepare dough: Mix 3 ½ cups flour and salt together in a large bowl, then make a well in the center. Pour vegetable oil and 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water into the well. Stir to form a shaggy dough that just pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Use a little flour to clean the dough off the spoon.
- Transfer dough to a work surface; press and knead for a few minutes until you have a smooth, soft dough. You can add a little more flour if it's too sticky but don't add too much. Form dough into a ball and wrap in plastic. Leave on the counter for 1 hour or pop it into the refrigerator for 3 hours to overnight.
- Prepare buttered onions: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let mixture cool a bit, then transfer to a bowl and reserve until needed.
- Prepare filling: Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain well and mash until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Place farmer's cheese in a bowl and break it up with a spoon. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne, then add 2 to 3 heaping spoons of the buttered onions. Be sure to drain off most of the butter so you're adding mostly onions. Mix just until ingredients are evenly combined.
- Add cooled mashed potatoes and mix until thoroughly combined. Set aside while you roll the dough.
- Roll ¼ of the dough at a time on a floured surface until very thin, at least 1/8-inch thick or thinner if possible. Cut 3 ½-inch circles out of the dough, saving all scraps for re-rolling.
- Add about 2 tablespoons filling to the center of each circle. Moisten your fingertips with water and wet the edges, then fold the dough over the filling and seal the two edges together in the center. Flatten the filling very lightly under the dough as you press and seal the edge of each pierogi with your fingers, working from the center to the ends. Try not to trap air in the pierogi as you seal. The edge can be left as is, or you can pinch the dough every inch or so to make pleats for a more decorative appearance.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pierogi in batches and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes (they may or may not float to the top.)
- While the pierogi are boiling, melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Transfer pierogi from the boiling water directly into the melted butter. Cook until light golden brown, about 2 minutes per side or longer if more browning is desired.
- Continue boiling and browning pierogi in batches as needed.
- Transfer to a plate and spoon buttered onions over top. Garnish with sour cream and chives.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 739.1 calories, Carbohydrate 67.6 g, Cholesterol 96.4 mg, Fat 41.8 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 22.6 g, SaturatedFat 23.8 g, Sodium 1267.1 mg
Tips:
- Use a ricer to get the smoothest gnocchi.
- Make sure to use cold potatoes, as this will help the gnocchi hold their shape.
- Don't overwork the dough, as this will make the gnocchi tough.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil before cooking the gnocchi.
- Cook the gnocchi in batches, so that they don't overcrowd the pot.
- Remove the gnocchi from the pot with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a bowl of cold water.
- Serve the gnocchi with your favorite sauce.
Conclusion:
Chef John's potato gnocchi recipe is a delicious and easy-to-follow guide to making this classic Italian dish. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create light and fluffy gnocchi that are perfect for any occasion. Whether you are serving them as a main course or a side dish, these gnocchi are sure to be a hit. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting recipe, give Chef John's potato gnocchi a try.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love