How to make: gnocchi with nutmeg, butter & sage

A staple of Italian cuisine, gnocchi has been a popularly linked to pasta since Roman times, probably introduced by the Middle East. First introduced in the 16^th Century, the typical use of potato is relatively new – previously made with various base ingredients such as semolina or ricotta cheese.

Like many Italian dishes, this recipe for gnocchi with sage, butter and nutmeg is relatively simple to cook, but has a prominent focus on ingredients. Here, the quality of the cheese is absolutely crucial to the dish. A quick, easy dinner – this fifteen-minute meal can also be made with shop-bought gnocchi if you’re in a hurry, or if you’re feeling especially lazy.

Ingredients

Serves two

Unsalted butter, 100g

Sage leaves, 8, ripped

Lemon, juice of one

Nutmeg, to taste

Parmigiano Reggiano, to taste

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Olive oil

For the gnocchi

Baking potatoes, 3

Free range egg yolk, 1

Plain flour or tipo 00 flour, a large handful

Semolina flour

Method

Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and add the gnocchi. Simmer for 2-3 minutes or until the gnocchi floats to the top of the pan. Once cooked, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon.

Meanwhile, slowly melt the butter in a frying pan. As the butter is melting add the ripped sage leaves followed by a drizzle of oil to prevent the butter from burning.

Once the gnocchi have cooked, remove from the water with a slotted spoon and place into the frying pan with the butter and sage.

Increase the heat and toss the gnocchi into the butter sauce. Squeeze a small amount of lemon juice into the pan to arrest the cooking process then continue to mix for about one minute. If the sauce is too dry, add a splash of the gnocchi cooking water to loosen the sauce.

Remove from the heat and plate the gnocchi using the slotted spoon. Drizzle some of the butter over the gnocchi then grate a generous helping of fresh nutmeg and Parmigiano Reggiano (or an Italian hard cheese of your choice). Complete with a liberal crack of black pepper before serving.

To make the gnocchi

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6.

Wash the potatoes, prick them with a fork and rub with olive oil. Place on a baking tray and bake for about 1 hour until crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.

Once baked, allow the potatoes to cool for a few minutes, cut in half and remove the skins. Place the potato flesh into a ricer, bowl or food processor and mash until smooth.

Add an egg yolk to the bowl of mashed potato with a splash of water, sea salt and black pepper. Mix together, gradually adding the flour to reach the desired consistency – like pasta dough. If the mixture becomes too thick, simply add some more water. To test, drop a small piece of dough into boiling salted water; if it breaks, add more flour.

Divide into 6 pieces and roll each piece of dough into cylinders, ensuring that the dough isn’t overworked. Cut each cylinder into 2-3cm pieces with a blunt table knife and place on a bed of semolina flour, on a plate or tray. Leave this in the fridge for 10 minutes to set.

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Gnocchi with nutmeg, butter & sage

This recipe for gnocchi with sage, butter and nutmeg is relatively simple to cook, but has a prominent focus on ingredients.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Italian

Keyword Potato

Servings 2

Author Jon Hatchman

Ingredients

• 100 g Unsalted butter
• 8 Sage leaves ripped
• Lemon juice of one
• Nutmeg to taste
• Parmigiano Reggiano to taste
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Olive oil

For the gnocchi

• 3 Baking potatoes
• 1 Free range egg yolk
• Plain flour or tipo 00 flour, a large handful
• Semolina flour

Instructions

• Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and add the gnocchi. Simmer for 2-3 minutes or until the gnocchi floats to the top of the pan. Once cooked, remove from the pan with a slotted spoon.
• Meanwhile, slowly melt the butter in a frying pan. As the butter is melting add the ripped sage leaves followed by a drizzle of oil to prevent the butter from burning.
• Once the gnocchi have cooked, remove from the water with a slotted spoon and place into the frying pan with the butter and sage.
• Increase the heat and toss the gnocchi into the butter sauce. Squeeze a small amount of lemon juice into the pan to arrest the cooking process then continue to mix for about one minute. If the sauce is too dry, add a splash of the gnocchi cooking water to loosen the sauce.
• Remove from the heat and plate the gnocchi using the slotted spoon. Drizzle some of the butter over the gnocchi then grate a generous helping of fresh nutmeg and Parmigiano Reggiano (or an Italian hard cheese of your choice). Complete with a liberal crack of black pepper before serving.

To make the gnocchi

• Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6.
• Wash the potatoes, prick them with a fork and rub with olive oil. Place on a baking tray and bake for about 1 hour until crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.
• Once baked, allow the potatoes to cool for a few minutes, cut in half and remove the skins. Place the potato flesh into a ricer, bowl or food processor and mash until smooth.
• Add an egg yolk to the bowl of mashed potato with a splash of water, sea salt and black pepper. Mix together, gradually adding the flour to reach the desired consistency – like pasta dough. If the mixture becomes too thick, simply add some more water. To test, drop a small piece of dough into boiling salted water; if it breaks, add more flour.
• Divide into 6 pieces and roll each piece of dough into cylinders, ensuring that the dough isn’t overworked. Cut each cylinder into 2-3cm pieces with a blunt table knife and place on a bed of semolina flour, on a plate or tray. Leave this in the fridge for 10 minutes to set.