Nanas Spinach Gnocchi Recipes

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 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.

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.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA CHEESE GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Drain the ricotta cheese in a cheesecloth-lined strainer set over a bowl until it is very dry. Transfer the cheese to a large bowl and set it aside.
• Cook the spinach in batches in a covered large soup pot with no additional water until the spinach has wilted. Drain it in a colander, and when cool enough to handle, squeeze the spinach as dry as possible with your hands to remove excess water. You should have about 2 cups of squeezed spinach.
• Chop the spinach coarsely, then purée it in a blender or food processor until it is very smooth. Transfer the spinach to the bowl with the cheese and stir in 1/3 cup of the grated cheese, eggs, mint, salt, nutmeg and pepper, and mix well. Begin adding the flour a little at a time until a soft dough is obtained and is not sticking to your hands.
• It is easier to form the gnocchi if the dough is refrigerated for several hours or overnight.
• Lightly flour a work surface. Using two soupspoons, shape heaping tablespoons of the dough into an oval or egg shape then gently slide the dough off the spoon onto the floured surface.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. With a spoon, scoop up about 8 to 10 gnocchi at a time and add them to the water. Boil them until they float.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large sauté pan and stir in the sage leaves. Cover the pan and keep the sauce warm.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove and transfer the gnocchi to the sauce tossing them gently until well coated with the sauce.
• Divide between 8 individual plates and sprinkle with the remaining 1/3 cup of cheese. Serve hot.

SPINACH GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Defrost the brick of frozen spinach (you can also do this in the microwave).
• Squeeze ALL (and I mean ALL) of the water out of the spinach in small handfuls (I use my hands and do it over a bowl to make sure I don't lose any spinach).
• Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and pulse. You want to make sure the spinach is in tiny pieces and the mixture is thoroughly combined.
• Dust your hands with a little flour so the mixture doesn't stick to your hands.
• Take 1 teaspoon of the spinach mixture and roll into tiny balls. Place on a plate covered with waxed paper or parchment.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for cooking the gnocchi.
• Add the gnocchi to the water in batches and cook for 3 minutes or until they rise to the surface.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove the gnocchi to a plate or bowl.
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, cool and serve.
• To Freeze: After step 5, place on sheet tray and freeze for 30 minutes. Transfer to a ziploc bag, label and freeze up to 4 months. When ready, thaw to room temperature and follow steps 6-9.