So then here is how to make gnocchi at home: a classic Italian cooking technique! Believe me, it is great fun to make your own gnocchi from scratch!
Do you know how to make gnocchi from scratch?
This gnocchi recipe could be part of the chapter: “1000 success stories when your initial recipe turns out a wee bit wrong but after rescue plan B it resurrects into something even more exciting than the stuff you wanted to make in the first place”.
I just didn’t know how to make gnocchi.
Challenge
Sometimes things go wrong in a kitchen.
A few days ago I planned to make a creamy potato mash with a nice load of cheese and pepper in it.
However I must have grabbed the wrong bag of potatoes in the grocery store.
So I ended up buying waxy potatoes instead of the floury ones that I needed for my mashed potatoes.
And as the kitchen developed into a hectic battle field (floury war paint and so on) I wasn’t aware of this little hiccup while peeling them.
How To Make Gnocchi from Scratch
It was only when I checked the tenderness of the potatoes when they were boiling.
I came to realise there was something different going on here. So in the end my mash looked more like a gooey glue.
Way too sticky, and quite unpleasant to eat as well.
No way I would incorporate cheese or pepper in it.
That would make things even worse, I thought.
So there goes the brainstorm rescue train.
And in came the flour and eggs!
Poach or Bake
You can poach the gnocchi in salted boiling water, or bake them in the oven (light and healthy) or even pan-fry them!
And in the end these gnocchi were a surprising success, really.
Great taste and yet another splendid idea for a potato side.
Did you make too much?
You can easily freeze freshly made gnocchi!
How to make gnocchi: that is another answered question.
Enjoy!
How To Make Gnocchi Recipe
- 12 oz waxy potatoes (400 g)
- 7 oz plain flour (200 g) + extra for kneading
- 1 medium egg beaten
- olive oil
- pepper
- salt
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Peel the potatoes and cut them into pieces. Cook them in hot salted water until tender. Drain and set the potatoes aside to cool for 10 minutes. Transfer them to a blender and blend a few times.
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Add the flour and beaten egg. Season with a little pepper and salt.
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Blend it all into a smooth puree. Add a little more flour if the puree is too sticky.
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Put the potato dough onto a floured surface. Knead it for 3 minutes.
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Divide the dough into smaller portions. Roll each into a sausage shape and cut into small dice.
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Roll the pieces of dough into balls (add flour if necessary) and press them against the back of a fork to obtain that classic striped pattern.
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Sprinkle the fresh gnocchi with extra flour to avoid sticking. They are ready to be baked or poached.
Where can I follow a gnocchi workshop?
Do you want to learn how to make gnocchi on your next Italy holiday?
Florence
Learn the art of making gnocchi in Italy by attending a Gnocchi & Fresh Pasta Making Class by Mama Florence Cooking School in Florence.This 3-hour class is led by experienced English-speaking chefs and offers a warm, authentic setting to learn, cook and indulge in your pasta creations. The class covers the best pasta-making techniques, recipes and culinary tips.
Learn how to make gnocchi: how to create soft, pillowy dumplings from scratch and make tagliatelle, one of Italy’s most famous pasta types. The class includes hands-on cooking with a professional chef, preparation of an appetizer, two pasta shapes with sauces and dessert.
Enjoy a full meal of prepared dishes with locally sourced sustainable and organic ingredients, accompanied by Italian wine.
Rome
You can learn how to make gnocchi in Rome at a Gnocchi-making Pasta Cooking Class by Eatalian Cooks in Piazza Navona.
This 2-hour class is led by experienced instructors who walk you through the making of the dough and gnocchi itself. Learn how to make gnocchi pasta and enjoy it at Ristorante Tucci.
Another option is Viator’s Market Tour and Gnocchi-making Class with a View. This 3-hour class includes a tour of a local market in Rome, where you can taste seasonal products from vendors, and a gnocchi-making class led by a home chef. You will learn to make two different types of gnocchi from scratch, plus tiramisu dessert.
I hope this helps you find a gnocchi workshop!