Gnocchi - a recipe for Italian dumplings

Gnocchi - a recipe for Italian dumplings
Gnocchi - a recipe for Italian dumplings
Anonim

Gnocchi, the recipe of which was favorably received by the cuisines of not only European countries, is deservedly popular. The reason for this is simple: the ease and variety of cooking options allow this miracle of cooking to become both an everyday dish and a festive dish.

gnocchi recipe
gnocchi recipe

Ingredients of the European "boot"

Italian gnocchi can only conditionally be called as such, because they owe their origin to the culinary specialists of Ancient Rome. At that time, their main ingredients were semolina dough and eggs. But the penetration of new vegetable crops into Europe after the discovery of America made significant adjustments to the classic recipe. Today, potato gnocchi are very popular with both housewives and chefs of elite restaurants.

This dish in its modern sense is considered conditionally vegetarian. That allows you to actively use pumpkin, eggplant, artichokes, spinach, tomatoes or mushrooms in their preparation. Conventionality in the classic version of gnocchi, the recipe of which will be described below, is made with eggs, cheese, and chicken meat.

potato gnocchi
potato gnocchi

Connecting cultures

Potato gnocchi are considered a traditional type of this dish. Their advantage compared to other Italian recipes is that they are extremely simple both in preparation and in what they consist of.

So, to prepare gnocchi for a family dinner, you need a kilogram of potatoes, five hundred grams of durum flour and an egg. Such a simplified composition is explained quite simply: the dish was invented by simple farmers who sometimes do not have a rich assortment of products. The same circumstance also determines the cooking time: it will take only forty minutes to cook gnocchi for relatives.

The recipe for cooking is as follows. All potatoes are thoroughly washed and boiled in their skins. Next, it should be cooled to a temperature at which the tubers can already be held in their hands. After that, they are relieved of their "uniform" and rubbed.

As soon as the whole kilogram is turned into a single mass, an egg, s alt and flour are added to it. Mix everything thoroughly with your hands, achieving the complete absence of lumps. The result should be a kind of potato dough that does not stick to your hands.

The resulting mass is divided into four equal parts, each of which should be rolled into a tourniquet as thick as a thumb. Next, it is cut into small pieces about three centimeters wide.

The resulting dumplings should be dipped in boiling s alted water and boiled until tender. This process usually takes about five minutes.

italian gnocchi
italian gnocchi

Tricks of the trade

Gnocchi, the recipe of which was presented above, can be easily transformed. And you should start with the list of ingredients.

So, instead of potatoes, housewives use cottage cheese or pumpkin. Or they complement the classic set of products with boiled finely chopped mushrooms, chopped spinach, broccoli, baked eggplant or boiled chicken meat.

Instead of durum flour, you should try corn flour or “go back to the roots” and use semolina.

In addition, you can serve gnocchi on the table not only with butter, but also use various sauces, such as bechamel or tomato, decorating them with grated cheese.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that it is advisable to always cook the gnocchi prepared according to the above recipe immediately after their formation. But if there are more of them than necessary, then you can freeze them, having previously transferred them to a dish sprinkled with flour.

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