It’s Saint Patricks’ day and I have potatoes on the brain, potato gnocchi to be precise. While gnocchi has nothing to do with Irish cuisine, it is made with potatoes, Ireland’s favorite vegetable. Note gnocchi can also be made with ricotta. But potato is where it’s at IMHO.
Gnocchi is simple to cook and can be boiled, baked or roasted one of two ways.
Boiled - Add gnocchi into vigorously boiling water. Stir gently and cook just until gnocchi rise to the surface, about 1 minute. Combine cooked gnocchi with sauce of choice or olive oil. Season to taste.
Baked - Boil gnocchi as above. Toss with your choice of cooked ingredients and cheese sauce. Bake at 350 degrees 20-30 minutes or until heated through.
Oven Roasted - Toss uncooked gnocchi, olive oil, and your choice of raw ingredients and seasonings to taste. Spread out evenly on a sheet pan and roast, uncovered, in 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Pan Roasted - Heat 1 Tablespoon of olive oii + 1 Tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the gnocchi in a single layer working in batches, if necessary, to avoid crowding the pan. Stir every few minutes until lightly browned and crisp (about 10-15 minutes). Toss with your choice of pre-cooked ingredients, sauce or olive oil and seasonings and spices.
Now that you have the method down, add a protein of choice (optional) and a hearty helping of seasonal produce to create a complete meal and a recipe for success that can be reinvented throughout the year. Here are some combinations to try featuring Spring produce as well as suggested cooking method.
Spinach + Artichoke + Parmesan Sauce (Boiled or Baked)
Chicken + Sauteed Leeks + Chicken Broth (Boiled or Pan Roasted Gnocchi)
Asparagus + Peas + Morel Mushrooms + Chives + Mascarpone + Parmesan + Pancetta (Baked)
Fennel + Ramps + Onions + Gruyere + Italian Sausage (Any method; cheese sauce if baked)
Carrots + Onions + Artichokes + Peas + Lemon + Tarragon + Butter (Boiled or Pan Roasted)
Green Garlic + Lemon + Dill + Shrimp + Olive Oil (Oven Roasted)
While homemade gnocchi is preferred, creating these plump little pillowy dumplings of deliciousness is definitely a process and chances are you don’t have the time. So if you opt for store bought gnocchi I suggest buying fresh (refrigerated) for best results.