POTATO GNOCCHI

Share on Tumblr

HOW TO MAKE POTATO GNOCCHI (GNOCCHI RECIPE)

Potato Gnocchi, undisputed rulers of Thursday lunches, a pillar of our Italian cuisine. Warm, soft and tasty, they are a delightful and simple to prepare first course that brings adults and children together. Gnocchi are simple yet insidious to get the right consistency, and my Nonna is the absolute master, so follow her recipe and our tips to surely have the best Potato Gnocchi you’ve ever eaten! Trust me!

Watch How to Make Potato Gnocchi video recipe:

How to Make Potato Gnocchi from scratch:

INGREDIENTS:

For the dough:

• 1kg/35,2 oz potatoes
• 300g/ 10,5 oz plain flour
• 1 egg

For the sauce:

• EVOO
• Carrot (chopped into small cubes)
• Onion (chopped into small cubes)
• Celery
• Basil
• Sea salt
• Tomato

Utensils:

• Wooden board
• Knife
• Potato masher
• Large pot
• Saucepan
• Hand strainer
• Fork

METHOD:

1. To start making Gnocchi peel the potatoes and boil them for about 10 minutes, until they are nice and soft

Vincenzo’s tip: This is the most important step in the recipe! Don’t over boil the potatoes or they won’t be the right consistency for gnocchi.

2. Once boiled, strain them and squash them through the potato masher.
3. Then spread the potatoes out slightly on the wooden board using a fork, so they can cool down.

Vincenzo’s tip: it is very important to make gnocchi when the potatoes are at room temperature, don’t make the mistake to make them when they’re still hot.

4. While the potatoes cool down it’s time to start making the sauce by putting a saucepan on the stove filled with a nice amount of EVOO.
5. Then put the carrot and onion previously cut into the pan too.
6. Once the carrot and onion are cooked, add the tomato with a couple of basil leaves, celery and sea salt and let it cook for about 30 minutes.
7. Now, while the tomato sauce is cooking, go back to the potatoes which have now cooled down, and make a well in the middle of them, before cracking an egg into it.
8. Start mixing the egg with the potatoes first, (using a fork or your hands) and then add the flour, just a small amount at a time, and mix it through by beginning to knead the dough.
9. Massage it as much as possible until you get the right consistency.

Vincenzo’s tip: Add extra flour if you feel that the dough is too soft – just not too much at a time!

10. Once you’re happy with the consistency, you should have been able to create the form of what looks like a large single gnocchi!
11. Cut a small portion of the potato gnocchi dough and, using the palms of your hands, roll it out, back and forth into a long coil.
12. Using a knife, start cutting the coil in small pieces, on a diagonal – this will give you Nonna’s shape!
13. As you roll out and cut your gnocchi, always leave the dough covered underneath a large bowl, so it doesn’t dry out.
14. The potato gnocchi should be put into a flat tray, covered with flour at the bottom so they don’t stick.
15. Add a sprinkle of flour to the top of the gnocchi once they are added into the tray.
16. Repeat steps 11- 15 until you finish using all of your dough.
17. Now it’s time to cook them! Bring about 5L of water to boil in a large pot and add a sprinkle of rock salt.
18. Gently drop the gnocchi in making sure not to stir them or you might squash them!
19. Once gnocchi have risen to the top, wait about 1 1/2 minutes and then strain them using a large colander.

Nonna Igea’s tip: If you are making a large batch, when they have all risen up, turn off the stove and add a glass (or two) of cold water, so that the gnocchi don’t become too soft before being strained!

HOW TO SERVE:

1. Before straining the potato gnocchi, get a nice big bowl, put a large spoonful of tomato sauce at the bottom, along with a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan (or pecorino!) cheese on top, and gently put the gnocchi in there.
2. When all your gnocchi are inside the bowl, sprinkle them with (MORE) grated Parmesan cheese first before adding a nice amount of tomato sauce.
3. Mix very well using a wooden spoon and you’re ready to taste these delicious gnocchi!

E ora si mangia, Vincenzo’s Plate…Enjoy!!!

Enjoy the Potato Gnocchi with Nonna Igea Basil Sauce:

• HOMEMADE BASIL SAUCE RECIPE

• RICOTTA GNOCCHI RECIPE

Join my private exclusive Italian Tours “Italy Unexplored Tour” and experience the Real Italy like you have never seen before.

The tour is exclusive to only 10 passionate foodies and it’s very unique. (Click here to get more details)

Tempted? Watch the video below and enjoy the sightseeing of the greenest region in Europe

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/vincenzosplate

Comments