Ricotta Gnocchi Recipes

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and dust with flour.
• Beat the eggs with 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper in a small bowl. Put the ricotta in a large bowl and whisk in the eggs with a fork until smooth. With a wooden spoon, stir in 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Stir in 3/4 cup of the flour; the dough should be slightly sticky but hold its shape, if not, add flour a tablespoon at a time, but not more than 1 cup in all.
• Turn the dough onto a floured countertop and knead just to bring it together. Divide the dough into 4 pieces. Roll one piece into a 1-inch-thick log and cut into 3/4-inch-long nuggets. Press the tops lightly with the tines of a fork. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• To finish the gnocchi, melt the butter in a large skillet (use up to 8 tablespoons if you want your pasta saucy).
• Add the gnocchi to the boiling water - you may need to do this in batches. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water to the butter and let simmer while you cook the gnocchi.
• Once they float, cook until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Gently remove with a spider or strainer to the skillet with the sauce. Toss the gnocchi to coat in the sauce. Sprinkle with the parsley and remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir gently to combine.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Combine the ricotta, eggs and Parmesan in a large bowl, along with some salt and pepper. Add about 1/2 cup flour and stir; add more flour until the mixture forms a very sticky dough. Scoop up a spoonful of dough and boil it to make sure it will hold its shape; if it does not, stir in a bit more flour.
• Put the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When it melts and turns a nutty brown color, add the sage. While it fries, drop the ricotta mixture by the rounded tablespoon into the boiling water, working in batches of six or so at a time so as not to overload the pot.
• When the gnocchi rise to the surface, remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the skillet. When all the gnocchi are done, toss, taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Stir together the ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan Cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl until evenly combined. Mix in 1 cup of flour. Add additional flour if needed to form a soft dough.
• Divide the dough into 3 or 4 pieces, and roll into 1/2-inch-thick ropes on a floured surface. Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces, and place on a lightly floured baking sheet. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, and cook until softened and fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in diced tomatoes and red pepper flakes; bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in shredded basil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• While sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Boil the gnocchi until they float to the surface, 1 to 2 minutes, then drain.
• To assemble the dish, stir the cubed mozzarella cheese into the sauce and allow the heat of the sauce to soften, but not melt the cheese. Place gnocchi into a serving bowl, and spoon sauce overtop.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whip the ricotta to break up the curds. Add the egg and stir until evenly combined. Add the grated cheese and a pinch of salt. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Pour flour onto a large plate or shallow pie dish. As if you were making chocolate chip cookies, use a teaspoon to form oval shape gnocchi and drop into flour. Do not let the formed gnocchi touch each other or they'll stick together.
• Working in batches of six, coat gnocchi lightly with flour by rolling the plate. Dust flour off gnocchi and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Repeat. Refrigerate two hours or until gnocchi are firm. You can refrigerate overnight but fresh gnocchi is best eaten the day it's prepared. Drop gnocchi into salted boiling water. Adjust heat to a simmer. When gnocchi floats to the top and is slightly firm to the touch, about 3-4 minutes. Remove using a slotted spoon.
• Serving suggestion: melted butter, peas and sage or a lean pasta topping of your choice, such as tomato sauce with basil and a shaving or two of parmesan cheese.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot, slowly bring the milk and the lemon juice to 200 degrees F. Remove from heat and cover. Place in a spot where the temperature will remain uniform (we suggest an unheated oven). After 6 hours, strain the curds and whey through cheesecloth. Tie the corners of the cloth to form a bag and hang it to drain overnight.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan, olive oil, eggs and 1 teaspoon salt with a whisk in a large mixing bowl. Add the all-purpose flour in 3 parts, stirring with a rubber spatula.
• Bring the dough together in a ball and cut off one-quarter of it. Dust the work surface with all-purpose flour to prevent sticking, and roll the cut-off piece of dough into a dowel shape about 5/8 inch in diameter. Cut the dowel into 5/8-inch pieces. Dust some parchment paper with semolina flour and place the gnocchi on it to prevent sticking. Repeat with the rest of the dough, quarter by quarter.
• Cook the gnocchi in the boiling water for 2 minutes. Serve tossed with a bit of the Pancetta Tomato Sauce. Alternatively, you can freeze the uncooked gnocchi for up to 2 weeks.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook until the fat has rendered and the pancetta is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the pancetta from the pan and reserve, leaving the fat behind.
• Add the diced onions to the hot pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the onions have softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the crushed tomatoes, cover and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, then remove the lid, add the reserved pancetta and cook an additional 10 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper, stir in the basil and serve.

Steps:

• Stir together ricotta, eggs, 1 cup cheese, nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Add flour, stirring to form a soft, wet dough.
• Shape dough on a well-floured surface with lightly floured hands into 2 (1-inch-thick) ropes. Cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces with a lightly floured knife. Put in 1 layer on a lightly floured parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Cook gnocchi in 2 batches in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water), adding a few at a time to pot and stirring occasionally, until cooked through (cut one in half to check), 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain in colander.
• Meanwhile, cook butter with rosemary in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-low heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Toss gnocchi with brown butter in skillet and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Season with salt.

Steps:

• In a bowl, place the ricotta, grated cheese, egg, and salt; Add 1 cup of the flour and mix.
• Add only as much more flour as you need to create a workable dough. Be careful not to overwork.
• Divide the dough into fist size pieces, and roll into long logs as thick as your thumb; Cut into 1 inch slices and gently place on a lightly floured baking sheet. Continue with the rest of the dough in this manner; If not using immediately, place in the refrigerator.
• To prepare the sauce, heat the oil in a sauce pan and add the garlic cooking only until fragrant - Do not brown; Add the tomatoes, basil, and seasonings and bring to a boil; Turn down to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.
• To cook the gnocchi, drop into lightly salted water and remove as soon as they float to the top, after 1 or 2 minutes. Place in a warmed bowl, top with some of the tomato sauce and the mozzarella cubes and gently mix; Serve with additional sauce if desired.
• Tip - dry the ingredients as much as you can before using, let your ricotta drain of excess water by placing it in a strainer over a bowl and leaving it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using; this will aid in the ease of preperation of ginocchi.