Ricotta And Grana Padano Gnocchi Recipes

RICOTTA AND GRANA PADANO GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Place the soft ricotta cheese and Grana Padano or Parmigiano cheese in a large bowl and mix by folding the ingredients together. Add a small amount of flour (1/4 to 1/2 cup) to bind the dough and absorb the excess moisture.
• Knead the dough on a lightly-floured work surface. It is important not to add too much flour because the gnocchi may get heavy.
• Take a large piece of dough, and roll it out into thin logs, approximately 3/4-inch thick. Cut each log into 1/2-inch wide cubes. Make ridges on each gnocchi by using the back of a fork in a rolling action. The imprints will trap the sauce on the surface of the gnocchi. Continue until all the dough is used.
• Place the gnocchi on a tray in a single layer underneath a cloth to prevent them from drying out. The gnocchi may be set in the refrigerator or freezer, until they're needed.
• To cook the gnocchi: Add the gnocchi to a pot of boiling salted water for about a minute, or until they float to the surface.
• The make the sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the fresh sage leaves. Drain the gnocchi and add them directly to the saucepan. Cook with the sauce about 30 seconds.

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.