Pumpkin Gnocchi
I love home made gnocchi, it has more texture and taste than the commercial varities. It may seem to be fiddley to prepare at first but after a few goes you will see just how easy it is to make. You need to mix the ingredients together lightly to a smooth consistency the firmer you are with the dough the heavier the Gnocchi.
Portions: 4-6 Portions
Preparation: 20-30 minutes
Cooking: 50 minutes
Ingredients
Gnocchi
- 400g pumpkin or butternut squash
- 400g floury potatoes
- 125g plain flour, plus extra for rolling
- 1 egg yolk, beaten
- salt and black pepper
- pinch nutmeg
To Serve
- 120g butter
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 24 sage leaves
- 2-3 tbsp toasted walnut pieces
- parmesan shavings (to garnish)
Method
- Pumpkin: Preheat an oven to 190°C. Slice the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut into slices 2-3cm thick and toss in an oven tray with the olive oil and seasoning. Cook for 30-40 minutes until tender.
- Potatoes: Place the potatoes with their skin on in a saucepan with cold water, bring the water to the boil and boil the potatoes for 20-30 minutes, until they are tender. Alternatively microwave them fro 8-10 minutes. Remove the potatoes from the saucepan or microwave and allow them to cool so that you can handle them.
- Gnocchi Dough: While the potatoes are still warm peel them and put them with the pumpkin through a mouli or potato ricer into a bowl and allow to cool. Add the eggs and mix until well combined, then gradually stir in the flour until you have a slightly sticky dough (you may not need all the flour as the potatoes will vary in moisture). Season the dough with the nutmeg and a little salt and pepper.
- Gnocchi: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it lightly. Divide the dough not 4 and roll each quarter into sausages around 1 cm thick. Cut the sausages into pieces 1.5cm-2cm long. Place each piece on your thumb and with a fork lightly mark over the top so that you have ridges on one side. Place the gnocchi on a floured container in a single layer as you prepare them. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
- To Cook: Bring a large saucepan of boiling water to the boil, reduce done to a strong simmer. Cook the gnocchi in the water in batches until they just rise to the surface then remove with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl while you cook the remaining gnocchi (if partially cooking in advance to reheat in a hot sauce, plunge them in a bowl of iced water).
- To Serve: Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the garlic and sage, and cook for a minute. Pour the sage butter over the gnocchi and garnish with parmesan shavings. Serve.
- This gnocchi is delicious served on a bed of rocket leaves.