Saturday, August 23, 2008

Ricotta Gnocchi

Normally I hate it when people pronounce food wrong. Bruschetta (broosketa) is typically the biggest culprit followed closely by Ricotta (riCOATa) cheese. The one food item that somehow slipped through the angry word cracks is Gnocchi (neeYOKE e). Inevitably someone-usually my mother-orders the "G-no-chee". How can you not giggle when someone says that? G-no-chee doesn't even sound appetizing, and that, my friends, is a travesty because Gnocchi is heavy sent.

Traditionally made from a mixture of potatoes, flour and eggs, gnocchi are tender little dumplings that fall easily into the comfort food zone. Several variations exist including gnocchi made with chestnut flour or-and this is a double whammy in the mispronunciation category: Ricotta Gnocchi. Typical sauces are made of fresh tomatoes and basil but can also include pesto and cream sauces-or as seen here, with a brown butter sauce drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

Ingredients:
1 C. Ricotta
1 Egg
3/4 C. Parmesan Cheese
1-1 1/2 C. Flour
Salt & Pepper, To Taste
1/4 C. Butter
Basil-To Taste (About 10-15 leaves)
Balsamic Vinegar

Method:

1. In a large pasta pot, boil salted water.

2. Combine Ricotta, egg, cheese, salt and pepper. In 1/2 C. incriments, add the flour until you have a soft but no longer sticky dough. Test for seasoning.

3. On a floured surface, roll dough into thin logs. With a knife, cut 1/2 inch pieces on the diagonal. Drop into boiling water and cook until the gnocchi float to the top of the pot, about 3-4 minutes.

4. Meanwhile: In a saucepan, slowly brown the butter, being careful not to burn it. Swirling the pan every now and then helps this. Once the butter is brown, remove from heat and toss it with the gnocchi. Top with basil and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

5 comments:

Mo and The Purries said...

Some of my favorite things: balsamic vinegar, pesto, and ricotta --- I have only had home-made gnocchi once, and it was strictly little potato balls with butter. They were good, but yours sound deeelish!

Callie Ann said...

Yummy for the Tummy

Linda said...

Dang, woman, you have gone and made me hungry again! hmmm ... where is that box of Cheez-Its??

Crazy Working Mom said...

I'll be over in a bit to give it a try. ;)

TBones said...

checking out your blog (saw it on entrecard!) and LOVE it! your rant about mispronounced foods would have had me laughing out loud if i hadn't heard it a hundred times in my own head :)
on an ad for an italian cooking show, they mentioned making sweet potato gnocchi. i am going to look up the recipe and make them to serve alongside leftover Thanksgiving turkey next week... i'm sure i'll be posting it on my "what's for dinner?" blog
http://tanyabones.blogspot.com
if you have a minute to check out my blog and you like it, maybe you could do a guest posting sometime? leave me a comment if you are interested.