Sweet Potato Gnocchi Drunken Prunes And Amaretti Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S SWEET POTATO GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Prick a sweet potato all over with a sharp knife and microwave until very soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Let sit until cool enough to handle.
• Cut potato in half and scoop flesh into a bowl. Mash or blend until smooth. Add ricotta cheese, egg, kosher salt, and cayenne; mix with a spoon until smooth and combined. Stir in flour until mixture comes together into a sticky ball of dough, adding more flour as needed.
• Transfer to a floured surface and knead gently, adding flour as needed, until no longer sticky. Divide into 8 portions. Roll into ropes about 1/2-inch thick, using flour as needed. Dust ropes with flour and cut with a bench scraper into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer pieces onto a sheet pan and let dry on the pan for 15 to 20 minutes, or refrigerate until needed.
• While gnocchi dry, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crisp, 7 to 10 minutes. Add butter and cook until lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in rosemary. Reserve until needed.
• Stir gnocchi into the pot of boiling water and cook until they float to the top, 3 to 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer cooked gnocchi to the sauce.
• Heat over medium to medium-high heat, coat with sauce, and season with salt. Turn off heat and stir in 1 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Transfer to a warm serving bowl and top with additional Parmigiano-Reggiano.

SWEET POTATO GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Using a fork, lightly prick holes all over the sweet potatoes. Set the sweet potatoes on a foil-lined roasting tray and bake until fork tender, 30 minutes.
• While still hot, cut the sweet potatoes in half and scoop the flesh into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Add the 1 cup Parmesan, olive oil, brown sugar, thyme, nutmeg, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Beat on medium speed until the ingredients come together. Increase the speed to high and mix until light and airy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Dump the sweet potato mixture onto a lightly floured work surface and gently knead, adding small amounts of flour at a time, until the dough comes together and holds as a single mass. When done, the dough should be light and tender to the touch. Place in a floured bowl, cover and let rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Divide the dough in half on a lightly floured work surface. Roll each half into a 3/4-inch-thick rope. With a sharp knife, cut the ropes into 1-inch "pillows."
• Bring a medium saucepot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook until they float, 2 to 3 minutes.
• While the gnocchi are cooking, set a large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and melt until frothy and nutty-smelling. Drain the gnocchi, reserving some of the cooking water; add the gnocchi straight to the saute pan. Toss to brown lightly, then season with salt and pepper. Once browned, you can add a little of the pasta water to make a light sauce. Divide among serving plates and shower with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.