Ricotta Gnocchi
Welcome to Corona Kitchen.* I thought that for at least this week, and maybe next week and who knows, maybe the week after that, I would post kitchen activities that might be fun for the whole cooped up family. This concept was inspired by my daughter Mattes who on Sunday afternoon announced that she wanted to make gnocchi. I told her that we had potatoes and she’d have to improvise without a ricer but she shooed me out of the kitchen and said that she had a recipe and was good to go. The kitchen control freak in me hesitated slightly before relenting.
In the time it took me to take a shower, she had produced heavenly light clouds of Ricotta Gnocchi. I snagged one out of the bowl and quickly heated up some tomato sauce to make an afternoon snack out of a handful more (yes, quarantine already translates into six meals a day). To be honest, these gnocchi would be delicious with just a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt.
If you have younger kids, set the ingredients out for them and let them “make Play-Doh” which this recipe is akin to. If you have teens, just get out of their way. And if you are already bored at home, roll up your sleeves. No matter who takes on this light kitchen task, you will have lunch, dinner or an afternoon snack ready in no time. Enjoy!
Oh and did I mention that Mattes’ recipe was from a Tik Tok video and that she halved it by estimating? Don’t get me started! After struggling with her source and considering sharing a Ricotta Gnocchi recipe from a more reliable one, I relented and have transcribed the original recipe below. The gnocchi really were that good and seemingly foolproof. And no, I did not just call my daughter a fool–check back with me on Quarantine Week Two!
*Finally, “Corona Kitchen” obviously refers to the coronavirus pandemic which I am in no way taking lightly or minimizing the crisis. Just trying to find some humor during these uncertain times. I hope not to offend.
Ricotta Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 2 c ricotta cheese
- 1/2 c Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 Tbls olive oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/4 c flour added in three parts
Instructions
- Set a pot of water to boil over medium-high heat.
- Combine ricotta, Parmesan, salt, oil and eggs in a large bowl and mix to combine.
- Add flour to the mixture, one-third at a time, making sure it is combined before adding the subsequent thirds.
- Once your dough is formed into a flattened circle (adding a bit more flour if your dough is sticky) turn it out onto a floured surface.
- Using a knife or a scraper, cut off a strip and roll it into a "snake" (for lack of a better description). Cut the snake into 1-inch segments and give each a little thumb print before setting aside on a lightly floured plate. Repeat until all of your gnocchi are formed.
- Generously salt the boiling water and add the gnocchi to the pot (in batches if necessary to avoid over-crowding). Let them cook until they float to the top, which will only take about 1-2 minutes. Remove from the water with a strainer or slotted spoon. Repeat with subsequent batches if necessary.
- Enjoy gnocchi with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt or with your favorite pesto or sauce.