I had always watched fancy cooking shows where recipes like this were made, but when I realized how easy it was to make them, how much the kids liked them, how versatile they were to use – well, I had to.
I made a batch of dough and prepared them two ways.
Caramelized Portabella and Sweet Onion and Basil Pesto – so very good.
//Ingredients//
5 large potatoes, gold are my favorite
1 egg, lightly beaten
salt and freshly cracked black pepper
1 cup of flour (more for dusting your work surface)
1 tsp fresh nutmeg
//Optional//
1 medium onionplus 2 cloves of garlic and 8 baby bella mushrooms
pesto (fresh or store bought, Sam’s Club brand is great)
//Method//
Peel all of the potatoes. Fill a large pot with cold water. Salt the water, then cut potatoes in half and place them in the pot. Bring the water to a boil and cook the potatoes until tender throughout, this takes about 30 minutes.
Remove the potatoes from the water one at a time with a slotted spoon and place into a large bowl. Work quickly with the potatoes, so that you can mash them when they are still hot. Process the potatoes through a ricer, pulse them in a food processor or mash them with the tines of a fork – no need to make things more complicated eh? The end result is that you have an even consistency and no big lumps.
Let the potato mash cool in the bowl – about ten minutes. When you are ready, drizzle the potatoes with the beaten egg and sprinkle 3/4 cup of the flour across the top. Incorporate the flour and eggs into the potatoes with the egg incorporated throughout – use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to make quick work of it. Scrape the bottom of the bowl and fold the ingredients together, until the mixture is a light crumble. Then knead the dough with your hands, very gently.
Here, you can add more flour (a sprinkle at a time) if the dough is too sticky. The dough should be still be moist, but it should be fairly easy to handle; not tacky. Cut the dough into 8 pieces. Now gently roll each 1/8th of dough into a snake-shaped log, roughly the thickness of your thumb. Use a knife to cut pieces every 3/4-inch. Dust with a bit more flour.
To shape the gnocchi hold a fork in one hand and place a gnocchi pillow against the tines of the fork, cut ends out.
Lightly, use your thumb and press in and down the length of the fork. The gnocchi should curl into a slight “C” shape, the back will have ridge marks from the tines of the fork. Set each gnocchi aside, dust with a bit more flour if needed, until you are ready to boil them. This step takes some practice, don’t get frustrated – sometimes I just cut them and don’t bother with the tines and ridges; they’re just as good in the shapes of little square plain pillows.
Bring a fresh pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the gnocchi about ten at a time. They will float to the top of the pot when they are ready. Scoop them out with a slotted spoon, and place them on a waiting platter.
Combine with your sauce or accompanying ingredients of choice – fresh sauteed garlic spinach, pesto, caramelized mushrooms and onions, fresh grated parmesan and a splash of cream with fresh cracked black pepper — the options are endless!
Serves ~ 8
