Cheating On Giadas Gnocchi Recipes

GNOCCHI ALLA ROMANA

Steps:

• Lined a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• To a medium saucepan add the milk, broth, 2 tablespoons butter and salt.
• Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. When the milk mixture begins to simmer, pour the semolina into the milk in a steady stream while whisking constantly. Change to a rubber spatula and cook, stirring often until very thick and smooth, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Quickly stir in 1 cup of parmesan cheese and the egg yolks. Spread the mixture on the prepared tray to a 10x12 inch rectangle, about 1/3 inch thick. Allow to cool to room temperature for 30 minutes then cool entirely in the refrigerator for about 1 hour or until set.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9x13 baking dish or oven-safe skillet, and add two cups of marinara to coat the bottom of the dish.
• Using a 2 1/2 inch round cutter, cut rounds of semolina dough. Place in the prepared baking dish overlapping the rounds slightly. Dot the top with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, sprinkle with the chopped basil and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan and 1/2 cup pecorino cheeses. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown. Turn the broiler to high and broil for an 5 minutes or until deep golden brown and crispy. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.

SARDINIAN GNOCCHI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the semolina and 00 flours and form a well. Add the water and salt to the center of the well. Using a fork, slowly start to incorporate the flour into the water to form a rough dough. Add a teaspoon of water if the dough is too dry or a dusting of flour if it is too wet.
• Lightly flour a smooth work surface and pour the dough onto the flour. Knead the dough until it springs back when you press a finger into it, 8 to 10 minutes. Flatten the dough into an even square. Wrap the dough well in plastic wrap and allow to rest for 1 hour.
• Cut the dough into 6 pieces. Roll a piece into a 1/3-inch-thick rope. Cut the rope into 1/3-inch pieces. Press one piece of dough firmly with your thumb against a gnocchi board or the back tines of a fork, rolling the dough as you pull it along to create a shell shape. Continue with the remaining dough, dusting the pasta with 00 flour as needed to prevent sticking.

FRESH POTATO GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Pierce the potatoes all over with a fork. Microwave the potato until tender, turning once, about 12 minutes. While hot, cut the potatoes in half and score the flesh to allow the steam to escape. When still warm but cool enough to handle scoop the flesh into a ricer* and rice into a medium bowl. Spread evenly in the bowl to continue to allow the steam to escape. Discard the skin. Add the salt, pepper and flour and gently toss to combine. Form a well and add the egg. Using your hand and starting in the center, mix well to combine. Place the dough onto a clean counter dusted with flour. Knead the dough just until blended, about 4 or 5 times.
• Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece between your palms and the work surface into a 1/2-inch-diameter rope (about 20 inches long). Cut the dough into 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece of dough over a wooden paddle with ridges or over the tines of a fork to form grooves in the dough. Place on a well-floured surface. Continue with the remaining dough dusting the gnocchi with additional flour as you go.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season generously with salt.
• Add the gnocchi to the boiling water and stir with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking. Cook until the gnocchi rise to the surface, about 1 minute. Continue cooking until the gnocchi are tender, about 2 to 3 minutes longer. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the gnocchi to a pan or a bowl to coat in your sauce of choice.

GNOCCHI WITH BUTTER THYME SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook the butter in a heavy medium skillet over medium heat until it begins to brown, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the thyme leaves. Set aside.
• Pierce the potato all over with a fork. Microwave the potato until tender, turning once, about 12 minutes. Cut the potato in half and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; discard the skin. Using a fork, mash the potato well. Mash in the salt and pepper. Mix in 3 tablespoons of the egg; discard the remaining egg. Sift the flour over the potato mixture and knead just until blended.
• Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece between your palms and the work surface into a 1/2-inch-diameter rope (about 20 inches long). Cut the dough into 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece of dough over a wooden paddle with ridges or over the tines of a fork to form grooves in the dough.
• Cook the gnocchi in a large pot of boiling salted water until the gnocchi rise to the surface, about 1 minute. Continue cooking until the gnocchi are tender, about 4 minutes longer. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the gnocchi to the hot thyme-butter in the skillet. Toss to coat.
• Spoon the gnocchi and butter sauce into shallow bowls. Top with the Pecorino and serve.

CHEATING ON GIADA'S GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place gnocchi in a lightly greased 8 x 8 inch baking dish and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, whisk together cream, milk, broth, and flour over medium heat. Continue whisking until the sauce is simmering and thickened, about 25 minutes.
• Add salt, pepper and nutmeg, and stir to combine. Add spinach and toss to coat in the cream. Pour the cream and spinach mixture over the gnocchi evenly, spreading the spinach out to cover all the potato dumplings.
• Crumble goat cheese over the spinach. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake until the top is golden in places, about 30 minutes.
• NOTE: Heavy Cream Substitute.
• 3/4 cup milk (fat free).
• 1/3 cup margarine , melted and cooled (I use Brummel & Brown Yogurt Butter).
• Combine the two ingredients in small bowl and use in place of one cup of Heavy Cream in recipes.