What is Gnocchi? Best Tips to Make Some

If you're a fan of pasta, you might want to broaden your horizons and try something different. Specifically, gnocchi. If you haven't tried gnocchi yet, now might be a good time to give them a go. You may be pleasantly surprised at how delicious they are!

What is Gnocchi?

Gnocchi is basically Italian dumplings that are made from potatoes. At first glance, gnocchi and pasta actually look quite similar but gnocchi isn't a type of pasta. It is actually a potato-based dish. Potato gnocchi (or potato dumplings) are a simple recipe made from just potatoes, flour, and eggs. Its flavor depends on how you prepare it. There are three traditional ways to cook gnocchi: Gnocchi di Patate, Alla Romana, and Parisienne.

Gnocchi can be served with a wide range of sauces and toppings including cheese, tomato, cream, or pesto. Gnocchi is usually served with sauces and toppings, but they come in many varieties. The word gnocchi actually means “lump” in Italian, which is an accurate way to describe how this dish looks. It just looks like lumpy potato dumplings. Because traditional gnocchi is fairly plain, they're often served with hearty sauces. Some chefs will make flavored gnocchi such as pumpkin gnocchi for a unique twist on this classic.

To make gnocchi, cooks usually combine boiled mashed potatoes with flour and then cook them again. A typical result is a light, flaky pastry dough that is usually shaped and cut into bite-sized pieces. They often look like shells. This is why so few people know what gnocchi is even though they've eaten it before. Boiling gnocchi is the best way to cook them. They should never be fried.

What is Gnocchi made of?

Potato gnocchi is the most common kind of gnocchi. Gnocchi di patate is another name for them. Gnocchi di patate (potato gnocchis) are made from mashed potatoes mixed with egg yolks, teaspoon salt, and sometimes grated Parmesan cheese. They're traditionally served with butter and sage leaves. This classic Italian dish is easy to make at any time of year, but they're especially good during the winter months when there aren't many fresh vegetables available. Gnocchi di patate is often used as a side dish, but they're also delicious as a main course if you add some sautéed mushrooms or spinach.

Types of Gnocchi

Roman Gnocchi

Gnocchi Alla Romana or Roman Gnocchis are usually prepared using semolina flour rather than potatoes and flour, which makes them different from potato gnocchis. They're also known as Semolina gnocchis.

Roman gnocchi looks different from potato gnocchi. Like polenta, the cooked pasta dough is sliced into rounds or shaped into circles using a cookie cutter, then layered into a greased pan and topped with brown butter, eggs, and cheese.

Skillet Gnocchi

Skillet Gnocchi is just a convenient way to turn pre-made gnocchi into a fast meal. Cook frozen or refrigerated gnocchi in a skillet and mix them with vegetables such as asparagus, spinach, or Swiss chards, and seafood such as shrimps, then finish them under the broiler in an oven.

Gnocchi Soup

Chicken Gnocchi Soup is an Italian cuisine that is also known as Italian Dumpling Soup. Because regular-sized gnocchi is too big for soups, chicken gnocchi soups are normally made with smaller gnocchi.

Spinach Gnocchi

One of the many variations of traditional potato gnocchi is spinach gnocchi. They're called spinach ricotta gnocchi because they resemble irregularly-sized gnocchi dumplings, which earn them their Italian name Malfatti, which translates into "badly made."

Cauliflower Gnocchi

This gluten-free version of gnocchi uses fresh riced cauliflower instead of a potato dish and is prepared using cassava flour and gluten-free flour such as rice flour and tapioca flour. It is also suitable if you're following the Ketogenic Diet. You can buy cauliflower gnocchis already prepared but they can also be made from scratch.

How to Make Homemade Potato Gnocchi

Prepare the Potatoes

• Boil some salt into a big pot of water.
• Add potatoes to boiling water.
• When cooked, it should be tender but still firm.
• It should take approximately 15 minutes for the potatoes to cook
• Drain, cool, then mash with a potato masher or fork

Make the Dough

• Mix one cup of mashed potatoes, flour, and eggs in a large bowl.
• Knead until the dough becomes a ball.
• Shape small pieces of the bread into a long snake shape
• On a floured surface, slice it into half-inch slices.

Cook Gnocchi

• Put a large pot of boiling water on the stove
• Add a pinch of salt.
• Drop in some gnocchi and cook them for three to five (3–5) minutes or until they rise to the top
• Drain them and serve.

Check out these other types of gnocchi recipes that you may want to try

Pro-Tips when Making Gnocchi

1. To get the most out of your potatoes, use a starchy potato like a russet, Idaho, or baking potato rather than a waxy potato like Yukon Gold.
2. You can either boil or bake the potatoes before mashing them. Just be sure to let the water content out after cooking so your mashed potatoes don't get too wet.
3. Then press them through a potato ricer to remove excess water.
4. The quantity of flour you need depends on how much water the potatoes absorb during cooking: boiling, microwaving, or baking. The dough should be firm enough so that it holds its shape when rolled out, but not too hard.
5. Don't overwork the dough.
6. Roll out the dough into snakes using the palms of your hands instead of your fingers.
7. Cut the snake into ¾--inch slices. Roll each piece against the back of a fork to impress the signature ridges.
8. Boil homemade gnocchi until they rise and float. Remove with a slotted spoon, let drain, and serve.

Best Sauce for Gnocchi

• Simple Dressing: Gnocchis are small, squarish pasta shapes with rippling edges. They're particularly good when cooked in rich sauces, but they're also delicious simply dressed with melted butter and fresh herbs.
• Gnocchi primavera: It is made with cooked potatoes and crispy fresh veggies, such as asparagus, peas, or snow peas, but you can also use zucchini, broccoli, and other veggies.
• Gnocchi Sorrentino: It is gnocchi cooked in a thick tomato-based pasta dish and topped with loads of cheese, usually mozzarella.
• Gnocchi Bolognese: As the name indicates, this gnocchi is in a rich meaty Bolognese sauce.