Gnocchi alla zucca (pumpkin gnocchi) – Lombardia
Recipe Type: First Course (Primo)
Cuisine: Lombardia
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Categories: Vegetarian, Gluten free *substitute polenta for flour, Dairy free*substitute olive oil for butter[br] Pumpkin gnocchi are common in the north of Italy, particularly Lombardy. Crushed[i] amaretti [/i]can be used to substitute some of the flour as they would do in Cremona. Instead of sage, a crushed garlic clove and a branch of rosemary may be added to the butter as it would be cooked in Brescia. In Friuli, some cheese would be added to the gnocchi dough and they would be baked al gratin in the oven with breadcrumbs, cheese, malted butter and sage. [br] The key to this recipe is keeping the gnocchi light and this is achieved by adding as little flour as possible and removing moisture from the potatoes and pumpkin by cooking them in the oven. Roasting also concentrates the flavours of the pumpkin and potato and none of the nutrients are lost as they would be if they were boiled. If you want to add crushed amaretti biscuits to the gnocchi, add 10 to 20 grams (depending on your taste) to the dough and deduct and equivalent amount of flour.
Ingredients
- [img src=”http://www.livingalifeincolour.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meimanrensheng.com-gnocchi-alla-zucca-06667-680×453.jpg” width=”680″ height=”453″ class=”aligncenter size-large” title=”meimanrensheng.com gnocchi alla zucca-06667″]
- 550 grams pumpkin, skin and seeds removed and cut to 1 cm dice
- 700 grams [url href=”https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/kitchen/ingredients/ingredients-p/#go-potato” target=”_blank”]potatoes[/url], preferably a yellow variety
- 160 grams[url href=”https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/kitchen/ingredients/ingredients-b/#go-BUTTER” target=”_blank”]butter[/url]
- 1 [url href=”https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/kitchen/ingredients/ingredients-e/” target=”_blank”]egg[/url]
- 180 grams [url href=”https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/kitchen/ingredients/ingredients-f/#go-flour” target=”_blank”]00 flour[/url](can use plain flour or cake flour) (can substitute 10-20 grams of flour with crushed [url href=”https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/kitchen/ingredients/ingredients-a/#go-amaretto” target=”_blank”]amaretti biscuits[/url])
- 1 pinch [url href=”https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/kitchen/ingredients/ingredients-n/#go-nutmeg” target=”_blank”]nutmeg[/url]
- 6 [url href=”https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/kitchen/ingredients/ingredients-s/#go-sage” target=”_blank”]sage[/url] leaves, rinsed and dried (can substitute 1 branch of rosemary and 1 crushed garlic clove)
- [url href=”https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/kitchen/ingredients/ingredients-c/#go-GRANA-PADANO-PDO” target=”_blank”][i]Grana Padano[/i][/url]cheese, finely grated for serving (can substitute [i][url href=”https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/kitchen/ingredients/ingredients-c/#go-PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO-PDO” target=”_blank”]Parmigiano-Reggiano[/url][/i])
- [url href=”https://www.livingalifeincolour.com/kitchen/ingredients/ingredients-s/#go-Salt” target=”_blank”]Sea salt[/url]
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease a baking sheet with a neutral flavoured oil and add the diced pumpkin. Bake the pumpkin for 30 minutes until soft. You should end up with 360 grams of pumpkin.
- [img src=”http://www.livingalifeincolour.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meimanrensheng.com-gnocchi-alla-zucca-06673-680×453.jpg” width=”680″ height=”453″ class=”aligncenter size-large” title=”meimanrensheng.com gnocchi alla zucca-06673″]
- At the same time, prick the potatoes all over with a fork and bake them on a greased baking tray for an hour or until soft. When cool enough to handle, remove the skin. You should end up with 360 grams of potato.
- [img src=”http://www.livingalifeincolour.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meimanrensheng.com-gnocchi-alla-zucca-06670-680×453.jpg” width=”680″ height=”453″ class=”aligncenter size-large” title=”meimanrensheng.com gnocchi alla zucca-06670″]
- Puree the pumpkin and the potato together either using a ricer, food mill or masher.
- [img src=”http://www.livingalifeincolour.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meimanrensheng.com-gnocchi-alla-zucca-06689-680×453.jpg” width=”680″ height=”453″ class=”aligncenter size-large” title=”meimanrensheng.com gnocchi alla zucca-06689″]
- Add 10 grams of the butter, the egg, flour, nutmeg and salt to taste.
- [img src=”http://www.livingalifeincolour.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meimanrensheng.com-gnocchi-alla-zucca-06704-680×453.jpg” width=”680″ height=”453″ class=”aligncenter size-large” title=”meimanrensheng.com gnocchi alla zucca-06704″]
- Gently mix the ingredients together using your hands to make sure it is well mixed. Be careful not to overmix as you do not want to form gluten strands which will toughen the gnocchi.
- [img src=”http://www.livingalifeincolour.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meimanrensheng.com-gnocchi-alla-zucca-06707-680×453.jpg” width=”680″ height=”453″ class=”aligncenter size-large” title=”meimanrensheng.com gnocchi alla zucca-06707″]
- Flour a work surface (preferably wood) and flour your hands. Break off a piece of the dough and roll it into a cylinder about 1.5 cm in diameter. Cut into pieces about 2 cm in length.
- [img src=”http://www.livingalifeincolour.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meimanrensheng.com-gnocchi-alla-zucca-06718-680×453.jpg” width=”680″ height=”453″ class=”aligncenter size-large” title=”meimanrensheng.com gnocchi alla zucca-06718″]
- Roll the pieces down a floured, wooden grooved board or off the back of a fork’s tines to form grooves in the surface of the gnocchi. These grooves will hold the sauce.
- [img src=”http://www.livingalifeincolour.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meimanrensheng.com-gnocchi-alla-zucca-06722-680×453.jpg” width=”680″ height=”453″ class=”aligncenter size-large” title=”meimanrensheng.com gnocchi alla zucca-06722″]
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- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add the gnocchi to the water. Cook until they float. You may need to give a little stir in case any are stuck to the bottom.
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- Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over medium heat with the butter and sage in it. When the butter has melted, let the sage cook for 1 minute and turn off the heat.
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- As the gnocchi float, remove the floating gnocchi using a slotted spoon and place in the saucepan with the butter and sage. Toss to coat the gnocchi and cook for 2 more minutes.
- [img src=”http://www.livingalifeincolour.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meimanrensheng.com-gnocchi-alla-zucca-06791-680×453.jpg” width=”680″ height=”453″ class=”aligncenter size-large” title=”meimanrensheng.com gnocchi alla zucca-06791″]
- Serve with grated Grana Padano cheese.
- [img src=”http://www.livingalifeincolour.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/meimanrensheng.com-gnocchi-alla-zucca-06784-680×453.jpg” width=”680″ height=”453″ class=”aligncenter size-large” title=”meimanrensheng.com gnocchi alla zucca-06784″]