Gnocchi With Parsley Butter Samphire Recipes

GNOCCHI WITH PARSLEY, BUTTER & SAMPHIRE

Steps:

• To make the gnocchi, cook the potatoes in boiling water for 40-50 mins until very tender, then drain well. Peel away the skin and press through a sieve or a potato ricer into a bowl.
• While the potatoes are still warm, add 1 tsp salt, the butter, egg and half the flour. Lightly mix together and turn out onto a floured board. Gradually knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a smooth, soft but slightly sticky dough.
• Roll out the dough into sausages, 2.5cm in diameter. Cut into roughly 2cm pieces and put on a floured tea towel to prevent the gnocchi sticking together.
• Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Drop the gnocchi into the water in batches and allow to cook for 2-3 mins until they float to the surface. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep hot while you cook the rest.
• Meanwhile, gently heat the butter in a large heavy-based pan, add the shallots and garlic, and gently soften for 5-6 mins. Add the samphire and cook for 4-6 mins more.
• Add the gnocchi to the pan with most of the parsley. Gently toss everything together and season. Serve immediately, scattered with the rest of the parsley.

GNOCCHI WITH SAGE-BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the gnocchi pasta, and cook until they float to the surface, 2 to 3 minutes; drain.
• Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, and cook until the garlic has softened and is beginning to turn golden brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in the sage and salt for a few seconds, then add the cooked gnocchi. Toss gently with 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese and the pepper. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese to serve.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• Put ricotta in a large mixing bowl and season generously with salt and pepper. Whisk in Parmesan and taste. The mixture should be well seasoned. Add eggs and mix well, then sprinkle in 1/4 cup flour and stir with a wooden spoon to incorporate. You should have a soft, rather sticky dough. Dump dough onto a clean work surface. Add a little more flour if necessary and pat very lightly to form a soft mass.
• Test the dough: Bring a saucepan of well-salted water to a boil. Take 1 tablespoon of dough and drop into water. Dough should sink to the bottom, then rise to the surface. Let simmer 1 minute, then remove and taste. If the dumpling keeps its shape, continue to Step 3. If it falls apart, add a little more flour to the dough, but carefully: If you add too much, the gnocchi will be stodgy.
• Dust dough lightly with semolina, then cut it into 4 equal parts. Dust work surface with semolina. With your hands flat, gently roll each piece into a rope about 3/4-inch in diameter and 12 inches long. Keep sprinkling semolina on dough to keep it from sticking to the counter or your hands.
• Using scissors or a sharp, thin-bladed knife, cut each log into 12 pieces. Dust bottom of a baking sheet with semolina. Transfer gnocchi with a spatula to baking sheet, leaving space between them so they are not touching. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 1 hour (or leave in a cool room).
• To make the parsley pesto, put parsley, garlic, olive oil and butter in the work bowl of a food processor. Pulse briefly, then blend to a rough purée. Taste and season with salt and pepper. You should have about 1 cup pesto, more than you need for this recipe. Leftover pesto can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to a month.
• Place a large pot of well-salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Add gnocchi, working in batches, if necessary. When they bob to the surface, let them cook for about 2 minutes and lift them from the pot with a slotted spoon or spider, transferring gnocchi to a large, wide skillet. Add 4 to 6 tablespoons pesto and 1/2 cup pasta cooking water to skillet and swirl pan to coat gnocchi.
• Serve gnocchi in warmed individual shallow soup bowls or a deep, wide platter. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios and dust with Parmesan. Pass more grated Parmesan separately.