Easy Gnocchi Recipe Au Gratin

EASY GNOCCHI RECIPE (AU GRATIN)

Steps:

• PREHEAT OVEN to 400F/204C. Spray a small 7-8 inch/18-20cm ovenproof baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray
• BOIL GNOCCHI: Bring salted water to boil in medium saucepan. Put gnocchi in boiling water, bring water back to boil, and lower heat to med heat. Gently boil for 2 minutes. Drain gnocchi and set aside.
• MAKE CHEESE SAUCE: Melt butter on medium heat in a medium or large saucepan. Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add flour and seasonings, stirring for 2 minutes. Add milk (and cream if using), whisking until slightly thickened, about 4-5 minutes. Turn off heat. Stir in grated cheese until smooth sauce is formed. If too thick, add a bit more milk (but note that sauce will thicken further with baking and standing). Taste and adjust seasonings. Stir in gnocchi and green onions.
• ASSEMBLE AND BAKE/BROIL: Spoon mixture into prepared gratin dish. Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley over the surface. Bake for 7 minutes, then broil for 3 minutes to brown, watching to ensure it doesn't burn. Let stand for a few minutes (sauce will thicken more) and serve with toothpicks as an appetizer or as a side or main dish.

SIMPLE AU GRATIN POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in cheese until melted. Add potatoes and onion., Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake 1 hour. Uncover; bake 30-40 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. If desired, top with additional pepper.

GNOCCHI GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degees.
• In a small sauce pan over med heat, warm the milk.
• In a med sauce pan over med low heat add the butter.
• When the butter has melted, add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes, to make a roux.
• Remove from heat and slowly add the hot milk, while whisking constantly.
• Add the salt, and return to med heat and cook, stiring constantly, until the sauce is smooth and thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat.
• Place half the cooked Gnocchi into a baking dish.
• Top with half of the white sauce and half the cheese.
• Place the other half of the Gnocchi into baking dish.
• Top with the remaining sauce and remaining cheese.
• Cut the remaining butter (1TBS) into small bits and pat them over the sauce.
• Sprinkle top evenly with the bread crumbs.
• Bake the gratin until the sauce is bubbling around the edges, and the top is golden brown, about 30 minute.
• Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minute.

SPINACH GNOCCHI GRATIN

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan cook the spinach in the water clinging to the leaves, covered, over moderate heat, stirring once or twice, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until it is wilted, refresh it under cold water, and drain it well in a colander. Squeeze the spinach dry by handfuls and chop it fine.
• In a heavy saucepan bring the water and the milk just to a boil with the butter, stirring until the butter is melted, add the flour all at once, and stir the mixture briskly with a wooden spatula until it pulls away from the side of the pan and forms a ball. Cook the dough over moderate heat, stirring, for 1 minute. Transfer the dough to a bowl and with an electric mixer beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, the salt, the pepper, the nutmeg, and the spinach.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Into a kettle of boiling salted water drop walnut-size spoonfuls of the paste, about 10 at a time, and simmer them, uncovered, for 5 minutes, or until they rise to the surface and are cooked through. Transfer the gnocchi as they are cooked with a slotted spoon to a large colander and let them drain well. Arrange the gnocchi in one layer in a buttered 1 1/2- to 2-quart shallow grating dish or flame-proof baking dish, drizzle the cream over them, and sprinkle them with the Parmesan and salt and pepper to taste. Bake the gnocchi in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes and broil them under a hot broiler about 4 inches from the heat for 1 minute, or until they are browned lightly.