Making homemade gnocchi is a labour of love that is well worth the effort. There is something truly satisfying about transforming simple ingredients like potatoes, flour, and an egg into soft, pillowy pasta that melts in your mouth. From the moment you start baking the potatoes to the final step of shaping the gnocchi, every step of the process is an opportunity to connect with the food and create something special.
As you knead the dough, you'll feel it transform from a rough and sticky mess to a smooth and elastic ball. It's like magic as the flour and potatoes come together to create a delicate pasta dough. Once you've shaped your gnocchi and boiled them in salted water, you'll watch in amazement as they rise to the surface, ready to be tossed in your favorite sauce.
Whether you're an experienced cook or just starting out, making homemade gnocchi is a fun and rewarding experience. With each step, you'll be building your skills and gaining confidence in the kitchen. And best of all, when you sit down to enjoy your homemade gnocchi, you'll know that you created something truly special with your own two hands.
Ingredients:
900 g potatoes, preferably russet
1 1/2 cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
1 egg
1 tsp salt
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Wash the potatoes and pierce them with a fork. Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a fork.
Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool slightly. Peel them while they are still warm.
Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or fork until they are smooth and free of lumps.
Add the flour, egg, and salt to the mashed potatoes and stir until the mixture forms a dough.
Dust a clean surface with flour and turn the dough out onto it. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 3-4 minutes.
Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick.
Cut the ropes into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces.
To shape the gnocchi, roll each piece against the tines of a fork, pressing gently to create ridges on one side and an indentation on the other.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi to the boiling water, a few at a time, and cook until they float to the surface, about 2-3 minutes.
Remove the gnocchi from the pot with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a serving dish. Serve with your favorite sauce.
This recipe yields about 4 servings of gnocchi. Enjoy!