Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi Recipes

EASY HOMEMADE RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Combine the gnocchi ingredients in a bowl except the flour.
• Use a rubber spatula to mix until the egg is partially mixed into the ricotta. Then add 3/4 cup of flour and mix until just combined so it is a sticky very soft dough, but not like batter. Use the remaining flour, 1 tbsp at a time to get the dough consistency right. I find 3/4 cup is enough. (Note 3)
• Turn it out on a work surface lightly dusted with flour, sprinkle a tiny bit of flour on top then pat it down to a disc about 1"/2.5cm thick. Cut it into 8 pieces.
• Roll a piece into a log about 3/5" / 1.5 cm in diameter and about 10"/25cm long. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Line 4 logs up, then cut them into 3/5" / 1.5cm pieces. Repeat with remaining 4 logs. (Note 4)
• Bring a large pot of water to boil. Tumble the gnocchi in and cook for around 2 1/2 minutes, or until the gnocchi is floating on the surface for around 30 seconds.
• Reserve 1 mug of cooking water. Then drain and add the gnocchi into the frypan with your sauce of choice (you only need one of them, not both). Follow the instructions below.
• Melt the butter in a large fry pan over medium high heat. Let it bubble until it turns brown. Add the salt and pepper. If the gnocchi isn't ready yet, remove from the stove until ready.
• Pour the cooked gnocchi into the fry pan along with 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water. Gently stir, coating the gnocchi in the melted butter, cooking for 1 minute. This is the step when the butter and starch in the water emulsify so the sauce coats each piece of gnocchi.
• Do a taste test and add more salt if required. Serve immediately.
• Heat the olive oil over medium high heat.
• Add the garlic and onion. Sauce for 3 to 5 minutes until the onion is translucent.
• Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 10 minutes. Do a taste test and adjust saltiness to taste.
• Add the gnocchi and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water. Cook for 1 minute, stirring gently. The olive oil and starch in the water will emulsify to thicken the sauce so it clings to the gnocchi better.
• Serve immediately as the gnocchi will start to harden after about 15 minutes as it cools. You can reheat in the microwave to soften.
• Garnish with freshly grated parmesan and parsley, if desired.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan, olive oil, eggs and 1 teaspoon salt with a whisk in a large mixing bowl. Add the all-purpose flour in 3 parts, stirring with a rubber spatula.
• Bring the dough together in a ball and cut off one-quarter of it. Dust the work surface with all-purpose flour to prevent sticking, and roll the cut-off piece of dough into a dowel shape about 5/8 inch in diameter. Cut the dowel into 5/8-inch pieces. Dust some parchment paper with semolina flour and place the gnocchi on it to prevent sticking. Repeat with the rest of the dough, quarter by quarter.
• Cook the gnocchi in the boiling water for 2 minutes. Serve tossed with a bit of the Pancetta Tomato Sauce. Alternatively, you can freeze the uncooked gnocchi for up to 2 weeks.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook until the fat has rendered and the pancetta is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the pancetta from the pan and reserve, leaving the fat behind.
• Add the diced onions to the hot pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the onions have softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the crushed tomatoes, cover and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, then remove the lid, add the reserved pancetta and cook an additional 10 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper, stir in the basil and serve.

RICOTTA CHEESE GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Combine the ricotta, eggs and Parmesan in a large bowl, along with some salt and pepper. Add about 1/2 cup flour and stir; add more flour until the mixture forms a very sticky dough. Scoop up a spoonful of dough and boil it to make sure it will hold its shape; if it does not, stir in a bit more flour.
• Put the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When it melts and turns a nutty brown color, add the sage. While it fries, drop the ricotta mixture by the rounded tablespoon into the boiling water, working in batches of six or so at a time so as not to overload the pot.
• When the gnocchi rise to the surface, remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the skillet. When all the gnocchi are done, toss, taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve immediately.

BAKED GNOCCHI WITH RICOTTA AND MARINARA

Steps:

• Heat broiler, with rack in top position. Divide gnocchi among four 8-ounce shallow baking dishes or place in an 8-inch square baking dish. Season with salt and pepper,then top with dollops of marinara sauce and ricotta cheese. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and broil until tops are browned in spots and gnocchi are heated through, 3 to 5 minutes, rotating once.

GNUDI (RICOTTA GNOCCHI)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add basil and cook uncovered until just wilted, about 1 minute. Immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain. Squeeze very dry and finely chop.
• Mix ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup flour, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, egg yolks, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Add basil, white pepper, and salt; mix until gnudi mixture is well-combined.
• Dust your hands with remaining 1/4 cup flour and form gnudi mixture into small balls.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add lemon juice. Boil gnudi in batches until they float to the top of the water, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain.

EASY RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and dust with flour.
• Beat the eggs with 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a small bowl. Put the ricotta in a large bowl and whisk in the eggs with a fork until smooth. With a wooden spoon, stir in 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Stir in 3/4 cup of the flour; the dough should be slightly sticky but hold its shape, if not, add flour a tablespoon at a time, but not more than 1 cup in all.
• Turn the dough onto a floured countertop and knead just to bring it together. Divide the dough into 4 pieces. Roll one piece into a 1-inch-thick log and cut into 3/4-inch-long nuggets. Press the tops lightly with the tines of a fork. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• To finish the gnocchi, melt the butter in a large skillet (use up to 8 tablespoons if you want your pasta saucy).
• Add the gnocchi to the boiling water - you may need to do this in batches. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water to the butter and let simmer while you cook the gnocchi.
• Once they float, cook until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Gently remove with a spider or strainer to the skillet with the sauce. Toss the gnocchi to coat in the sauce. Sprinkle with the parsley and remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir gently to combine.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Stir together ricotta, eggs, 1 cup cheese, nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Add flour, stirring to form a soft, wet dough.
• Shape dough on a well-floured surface with lightly floured hands into 2 (1-inch-thick) ropes. Cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces with a lightly floured knife. Put in 1 layer on a lightly floured parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Cook gnocchi in 2 batches in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water), adding a few at a time to pot and stirring occasionally, until cooked through (cut one in half to check), 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain in colander.
• Meanwhile, cook butter with rosemary in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-low heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Toss gnocchi with brown butter in skillet and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Season with salt.

POTATO-RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Prick potatoes all over with a fork (for even cooking, choose spuds that are all about the same size). Place on center rack and roast until soft and easily pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. (Roasting instead of boiling prevents too much moisture in the dough.) When cool enough to handle but still warm, halve and scoop out insides, discarding skins.
• Pass through a ricer or food mill onto a baking sheet (this produces a lighter consistency than a masher or fork can); you should have about 2 1/2 cups. Let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Using your hands, mound potatoes on sheet; make a well in center and add ricotta. Sprinkle everything with salt, nutmeg, and flour. Working from outside edges in, use a fork or your fingers to incorporate flour and ricotta into potatoes to form a dough. Knead, adding more flour if needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough is soft, smooth, and slightly tacky (but no longer sticky), about 2 minutes.
• To test dough, pinch a small piece off and roll it into a rope; if it doesn't hold together, knead a few more times. Transfer to a clean work surface and divide into 6 pieces. Roll each into a rope about 3/4 inch thick. Lightly dust ropes with flour, to prevent sticking when cutting. Using a bench scraper or sharp knife, cut each rope crosswise into 1/2-inch "pillows." Transfer to a lightly floured baking sheet.
• Heat tomato sauce in a large skillet over medium-low. Meanwhile, cook gnocchi in a large pot of generously salted boiling water until they puff up and float to top, about 2 minutes. Cook 1 minute more, then use a spider or large slotted spoon to transfer directly to skillet.
• Simmer, gently tossing a few times, until sauce evenly clings to gnocchi, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat; toss with Parmigiano-Reggiano and a few spoonfuls of pasta water (for silkiness). Season to taste and serve, topped with more Parmigiano and basil.

HOMEMADE RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH FRESH HERBS

Steps:

• Line a plate with a clean kitchen towel or a layer of 2 to 3 paper towels. Spread the the ricotta on the towel in a thin, even layer with a rubber spatula; this will help remove any excess moisture from the ricotta. Fold the edges of the towel over the ricotta, lightly press down and set aside to drain, about 15 minutes.
• Finely chop 1/2 cup of the basil leaves and 1/2 cup of the mint leaves, reserving the remaining leaves for garnish.
• In a large bowl, mix the chopped basil and mint, drained ricotta, Parmesan, eggs, 1/4 cup of the chives, 2 teaspoons salt and a healthy crack of black pepper with a rubber spatula until smooth and well-combined. Add the flour in 4 parts (1/4 cup at a time), delicately folding with the spatula between each addition to make sure the gnocchi dough remains light and fluffy.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and dust with flour. Set aside.
• Dust a clean counter or cutting board with flour. Scoop the dough out of the bowl and onto the floured surface, dust with more flour and use your hands to form into a thick ball. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 12-inch-long and 1/2-inch-thick snake. Using a sharp knife or pastry cutter, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces and place on the prepared baking sheet until ready to cook.
• In a large skillet, bring the tomato sauce to a simmer over medium heat, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low to keep warm.
• Season the boiling water heavily with salt. Add the gnocchi and cook until they float to the top, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer the gnocchi directly to the sauce using a slotted spoon or spider, add 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and delicately toss together until warmed through, taking care to not break the gnocchi.
• To plate, divide the gnocchi and sauce among 6 shallow bowls and top with Parmesan, the reserved basil and mint, the remaining 1/4 cup chives and a drizzle of olive oil. Enjoy!

RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Stir together the ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan Cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl until evenly combined. Mix in 1 cup of flour. Add additional flour if needed to form a soft dough.
• Divide the dough into 3 or 4 pieces, and roll into 1/2-inch-thick ropes on a floured surface. Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces, and place on a lightly floured baking sheet. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, and cook until softened and fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in diced tomatoes and red pepper flakes; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in shredded basil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• While sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Boil the gnocchi until they float to the surface, 1 to 2 minutes, then drain.
• To assemble the dish, stir the cubed mozzarella cheese into the sauce and allow the heat of the sauce to soften, but not melt the cheese. Place gnocchi into a serving bowl, and spoon sauce overtop.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH TOMATO, MUSHROOM AND PANCETTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. In batches, add the mushrooms in a single layer and cook until the moisture releases, 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle with kosher salt to taste. Flip the mushrooms and add a drizzle of olive oil and continue cook until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the pan and repeat with the remaining mushrooms. Remove the final batch of mushrooms from the pan and add the guanciale and a drizzle of olive oil. Reduce the heat to low and cook until golden brown and crispy, 5 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the guanciale and set aside, but keep the fat in the pan. Add the onions, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium-high heat until translucent, 5 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes, water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Add in the cooked mushrooms.
• To a large bowl, add the ricotta, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan and 1/2 cup grated pecorino and mix to combine. Stir in the flour and eggs and mix until the dough comes together. It shouldn't be too wet. Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface that's dusted with flour. Gently knead the dough, adding flour until it's no longer sticky and form it into a log. Sprinkle some flour onto a half sheet tray. Cut a small portion from the log of dough with a bench scraper and roll the dough into a long snake shape. Cut the dough into 1/2-inch pieces and toss in flour. Place them on the prepared sheet tray in a single layer.
• Set up a large pot of boiling water and season generously with salt. Add the gnocchi and cook until they're puffy and rise to the top of the water, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the gnocchi and place directly into the sauce. Add a ladle of pasta water and toss to combine. Add in most of the crispy guanciale (leave some extra for garnish) and the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan and 2 tablespoons of pecorino. Add a nice big fat drizzle of finishing oil and toss to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the remaining crispy guanciale, more Parmesan, pecorino and the chives.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whip the ricotta to break up the curds. Add the egg and stir until evenly combined. Add the grated cheese and a pinch of salt. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Pour flour onto a large plate or shallow pie dish. As if you were making chocolate chip cookies, use a teaspoon to form oval shape gnocchi and drop into flour. Do not let the formed gnocchi touch each other or they'll stick together.
• Working in batches of six, coat gnocchi lightly with flour by rolling the plate. Dust flour off gnocchi and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Repeat. Refrigerate two hours or until gnocchi are firm. You can refrigerate overnight but fresh gnocchi is best eaten the day it's prepared. Drop gnocchi into salted boiling water. Adjust heat to a simmer. When gnocchi floats to the top and is slightly firm to the touch, about 3-4 minutes. Remove using a slotted spoon.
• Serving suggestion: melted butter, peas and sage or a lean pasta topping of your choice, such as tomato sauce with basil and a shaving or two of parmesan cheese.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot, slowly bring the milk and the lemon juice to 200 degrees F. Remove from heat and cover. Place in a spot where the temperature will remain uniform (we suggest an unheated oven). After 6 hours, strain the curds and whey through cheesecloth. Tie the corners of the cloth to form a bag and hang it to drain overnight.

CHEF JOHN'S BASIL RICOTTA GNOCCHI

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.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• In a bowl, place the ricotta, grated cheese, egg, and salt; Add 1 cup of the flour and mix.
• Add only as much more flour as you need to create a workable dough. Be careful not to overwork.
• Divide the dough into fist size pieces, and roll into long logs as thick as your thumb; Cut into 1 inch slices and gently place on a lightly floured baking sheet. Continue with the rest of the dough in this manner; If not using immediately, place in the refrigerator.
• To prepare the sauce, heat the oil in a sauce pan and add the garlic cooking only until fragrant - Do not brown; Add the tomatoes, basil, and seasonings and bring to a boil; Turn down to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.
• To cook the gnocchi, drop into lightly salted water and remove as soon as they float to the top, after 1 or 2 minutes. Place in a warmed bowl, top with some of the tomato sauce and the mozzarella cubes and gently mix; Serve with additional sauce if desired.
• Tip - dry the ingredients as much as you can before using, let your ricotta drain of excess water by placing it in a strainer over a bowl and leaving it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using; this will aid in the ease of preperation of ginocchi.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH SPINACH & GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Scrub and pierce potatoes. Bake at 400° for 50-55 minutes or until tender. Peel potatoes; press through a potato ricer or strainer into a large bowl. Cool slightly., Add ricotta and Romano cheeses, oil and salt to potato pulp; beat on low speed until smooth. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Add flour; mix well. On a lightly floured surface, knead 10-12 times, forming a soft dough., Divide dough into 16 portions. On a floured surface, roll each portion into a 1/2-in.-thick rope; cut into 3/4-in. pieces. Press and roll each piece with a lightly floured fork., In a Dutch oven, bring water to a boil. Cook gnocchi in batches until they float, 30-60 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm., In a large saucepan, combine the squash, basil, water, oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook until squash is tender, 4-6 minutes. , Stir in cream and Gorgonzola. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Add spinach; cook until spinach is wilted. Serve with gnocchi.