Have Lots of Potatoes? Make Gnocchi!


Last Monday on my day off, I made homemade gnocchi. I love love gnocchi, the little pillows or clouds of potatoey goodness. In a tomato sauce, or pesto they are so light and fluffy in my mouth. I need to try browned gnocchi still. I had a bag of potatoes laying around and potato dishes were on my mind to use them up. Gnocchi use at least 5 medium size potatoes, more if they are smaller. Don't be afraid to make your own gnocchi, and it will taste way better than the store-bought version, trust. On to the recipe!

First, gather together your ingredients. 5 medium-sized Russet potatoes (weighing 2.2 lbs total), 2 egg yolks, 1 1/2 cup flour, 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt. 


Boil the potatoes but don't, I repeat don't, peel them before you boil them. If you can't, don't even pierce the potatoes to check to see if they are done. Piercing a potato will allow water into the potato, water is not gnocchi's best friend. You can boil an extra potato to use as your test potato if you choose. For small-sized potatoes, they will cook in about 10-15 minutes, medium sized potatoes about 20-25 minutes and large potatoes 30-35 minutes. 

When your potatoes are cooked, drain the water and let them cool. 

Once your potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel them and then mash them. 

I used a ricer, if you don't have a ricer, just use a fork to mash them. Mash the potatoes enough so there are no lumps. Allow the mashed potatoes to cool to room temperature. 


In a bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, the slightly beaten egg yolks and olive oil.  

In a smaller bowl, add the flour and a little bit of salt. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the potato mixture. Flour your counter to knead the potato and flour mixture into a dough. Combine all the potato and flour together into a smooth dough but don't over knead the potato dough. 






Divide the dough into 8 parts, and roll each part of the dough out into a snake and cut the pieces about 3/4 inch.


 In boiling salted dough, drop about 12-15 pieces of gnocchi and cook them about 2 minutes, when the gnocchi are cooked, they will float to the surface.


 I have two sheet pans full of gnocchi pieces. I cooked half and froze the other half for dinners later one. Gnocchi will keep in the freezer very well up to 2 months.


 
If you have a gnocchi board, you can roll one side of the gnocchi on the board before you drop them into the water to cook. You can also roll the gnocchi along the tongs of a fork if you like the ridges.

After my gnocchi were cooked, I put them in a pan with tomato sauce and some mozzarella cheese but there are so many different sauces you can put on top of the gnocchi. Then serve, eat and enjoy!


42 comments:

Katie {Miss Dixie} said...

Those look so amazing Meg! I decided this weekend I need to branch out and cook things that I never have before...just added gnocchi to the list!!:)

Unknown said...

i never knew it was easy to make them! awesome, thanks for sharing :)

Susan said...

Oh yum!! Gnocchi always seemed harder so intimidating to me, but I may have to try this one! Of and brown gnocchi is very good, you'll have to try it sometime!!

Simply LKJ said...

Looks super yummy, and you make it look so easy!

Fleur De Moi said...

You make it look super easy and fun. Now I gotta try it.

Katie said...

those look delicious! i want to try! thanks for sharing!

Bree said...

awesome :) Looks delicious! Certainly will have to try this!

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

Well hello Martha!! What a great idea to make it yourself! Things always taste better homemade :)

Leah said...

YUM! I love the recipes and corresponding pictures you post Meg! I am definitely going to make homemade gnocchi as soon as I get the chance!

Laura said...

Yum! I am so hungry just looking at your pics!

Darby Hawley said...

wow Meg I am very impressed! I've always been scared to make these and yours look so delicious!

Rheana said...

This looks delicious! I've never eaten gnocchi but I think i will have to try it. ;)

Michelle said...

Wow I need to try this!

Jenna said...

I've been wanting to try my hand at these for awhile. Thanks for sharing the recipe - looks like they turned out delicious!

xxx
Jenna

Nichole said...

O my goodness that looks amazing ! I will definitely be making this!

rachel @ Just a Touch of Gray said...

I'm so impressed!! I didn't even know what gnocchi was a couple years ago... let alone trying to make it myself! It looks GOOD!

Mandee said...

wow this is so impressive! What a lot of work! But a great idea and so yummy. I bet it tastes so much better than store bought:)

Amanda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amanda said...

I LOVE gnocchi, but never had the courage to make it! This looks super easy! A restaurant I use to work at had ricotta gnocchi and it was phenomenal :)

Unknown said...

I love gnocchi, but I've never tried to make it from scratch before. Looks amazing.

http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/

Alyssa said...

This actually seems pretty easy!!! I just pinned it... I'll definitely have to try this sometime. Thanks :)

Allison said...

I've never had (or even heard of) gnocchi, but it looks amazing!!!! Yum. Thanks for sharing!

Kelli Herrington said...

I have always wanted to try and make gnocchi but never had the guts to tackle it but this sounds easy enough that I am going to have to give it a try. You did a wonderful job and thanks for sharing.

The Presutti's said...

Being from an Italian family we always eat these. But the one time I tried to make them from scratch it was horrible. I guess you are just amazing at it, you make it look so easy :) I will try your way and see how they come out :)

Sarah said...

Ooooh how yummy. I've made it once when I was in food class in high school. It was so fun to make!

- Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com

Jamie LaFuze said...

My mouth is watering!!! You make it look so simple, now I'm going to have to give it a try.

Unpublished Life said...

These look delicious! I love gnocchi! Yummmm

http://unpublishedworksofme.blogspot.com/

Ivana said...

Awesome! I´ve always wanted to try this, but never actually did! This might be just the right moment! Thanks for sharing, Meg!

xx Ivana
Macarons and Pearls

miss b said...

I have never made gnocchi but I have just bought a ricer (mashed potato has never tasted so good!) so I think I'll have a go - I like your step by step instructions Thanks!http://missbbobochic.blogspot.com/

Lyndsey said...

look delish! I would make it if I could eat them! boo on low carb diets!

Becky Borgman said...

I am currently in the process of trying to replicate my favorite gnocchi recipe from our favorite restraunt in Chicago, jalepeno gnocchi! Mmmmm, can't wait till I don't have to travel 6 hours to get it!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

You make it look so easy! Yum!

ciaobella said...

i love making gnocchi!!! do you pronounce with the G or with the G silent!??! =)

Unknown said...

You're one talented lady!

Kristina
Nook & Sea

Amanda said...

Yum! I love gnocchi, especially when it's homemade!!! Thanks for sharing your recipe, Meg

Jenn @ Bliss to Bean said...

OH I haven't made this since college!! Yours do look like soft pillows!! You're adorable. Nice job!!

erica said...

Oh my gosh this is so awesome. You are so talented! I definitely will have to give this a try! xo

Amira said...

Bless your heart for sharing this recipe! My husband looooves gnocci and I think I could score some hefty wife points for making it homemade :-)

Laura said...

looks yummy!

Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted said...

Gnocchi always intimated me but you make it looks so effortless & yummy!

Kasey Lynne said...

Umm this looks DELICIOUS. I've always wanted to try gnocchi..but making it would be even better!

Thanks girl!

Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

We love gnocchi! I never thought of making my own, though!