Nannas Gnocchi Recipes

NONNIE'S GNOCCHI WITH FRESH MARINARA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Scrub the potatoes well and pierce in several places with the tip of a knife. Bake on a baking sheet until cooked through, about 1 hour. Set aside to cool.
• Once they're cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes and pass the flesh through a ricer or the finest holes of a food mill. Place 1 1/2 cups of the flour on a clean work surface and put the potatoes in the middle. Season with the salt. Knead the potatoes and the flour together until it's a smooth ball of dough that's slightly sticky. If the dough is too sticky, add more of the remaining 1/2 cup flour gradually to achieve the smooth consistency.
• Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces and cover 3 of them with a dampened kitchen towel. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the uncovered piece of dough into a 1-inch-thick rope. Cut into 3/4-inch pieces. Turn a fork over and hold at a 45-degree angle, with the tines touching the work surface. Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll it down the fork tines, pressing with your thumb to make ridges on one side. Place on a large baking sheet lined with a kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add half the gnocchi and cook until they bob to the surface of the water. Transfer to a shallow bowl and cook the remaining gnocchi.
• Serve the gnocchi warm with the Marinara Sauce. Top with shaved Parmesan and garnish with chopped basil.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until starting to shimmer. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the butter until melted. Remove from the heat and add the chopped basil.

GRANDMA'S GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Drop in potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool slightly, and peel. Season with salt, then mash potatoes with fork, masher, or in ricer. Place in large bowl, and stir in egg and olive oil. Knead in enough flour to make a soft dough.
• On a floured surface, roll dough into a long rope. Cut the rope into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Drop in gnocchi, and cook until they float to the top, about 3 to 5 minutes. Serve with pasta sauce.

BAKED GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook gnocchi in the boiling water until they float to the top, about 3 minutes. Drain.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spread 1/2 of the pasta sauce on the bottom of a 5-inch round casserole dish. Layer with gnocchi and spread the remaining pasta sauce on top. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 25 minutes.

GNOCCHI I

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Peel potatoes and add to pot. Cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and mash with a fork or potato masher.
• Combine 1 cup mashed potato, flour and egg in a large bowl. Knead until dough forms a ball. Shape small portions of the dough into long "snakes". On a floured surface, cut snakes into half-inch pieces.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Drop in gnocchi and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until gnocchi have risen to the top; drain and serve.

NANNA'S GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Place mashed potatoes, flour, egg, nutmeg and salt& pepper in a bowl.
• Knead lightly with your fingertips to make a firm but soft dough.
• Divide dough into 4 even-sized pieces and then roll into long sausage shapes on a lightly floured surface.
• Cut the rolls into small 1 inch pieces.
• Press each piece over the back of a fork, pressing lightly with 2 fingers.
• Bring a large pot of salted boiling water to simmering point.
• Drop six to eight gnocchi in water and simmer for 3- 4 minutes, or until they rise to the surface.
• Remove with a slotted spoon.
• Serve with your favourite pasta sauce and parmesan cheese.

NANA'S RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt and ricotta; mix thoroughly.
• Knead dough on lightly floured board until dough is smooth.
• Set dough aside on corned of floured board.
• Cut small pieces from dough and quickly roll dough into a "finger thin" roll, and cut into pieces about 1/2 inch long.
• Flatten each piece gently with thumb and bring long sides together to form a hollow tube or shell shape.
• Arrange the gnocchi on a lightly floured cloth or board, dust them lightly with flour.
• After shaping all the dough, gently drop the gnocchi into a large pot of boiling, salted water.
• Cook them about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• When they rise to the surface, remove them from the pot with a strainer.
• Place in a heated bowl.
• Serve with your favorite pasta sauce and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

NANA'S SPINACH GNOCCHI

Steps:

• In a large pot, add 3 Tablespoons salt to 5 quarts of water, bring to a boil.
• Place spinach, potatoes, egg yolks, Parmesan cheese, salt and four in a large bowl, use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix ingredients together to form a dough.
• On a floured board, roll dough into long, finger-thin ropes.
• Cut ropes into pieces about 1-2 inches long.
• Flatten each piece gently with thumb and bring long sides together to form a hollow tube or shell shape.
• After shaping all the dough, place about 20 gnocchi into a large pot of boiling, salted water.
• When they rise to the surface, remove them from the pot with a strainer.
• Place in a heated bowl.
• Keep water at a hard, rolling boil and continue cooking the gnocchi (20 at a time) until all are cooked.
• Toss with butter and grated Parmesan cheese or your favorite sauce and serve.