Basil Gnocchi With Simple Tomato Sauce Recipes

BASIL GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Make the gnocchi: Mix the instant potatoes with 1 cup hot water in a bowl using a fork; set aside until the potatoes absorb the liquid, 3 minutes. Meanwhile, puree the basil and 1/4 cup cold water in a blender until smooth. Stir the basil puree, egg, pecorino and 1 tablespoon salt into the potato mixture.
• Mound 3/4 cup flour on a surface; add the potato mixture and knead together until smooth, gradually adding the remaining 1/4 cup flour. Divide the dough into 3 portions; roll each into a 1-inch-diameter log (dust with flour, if needed). Cut each log into 1/2-inch pieces; place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate while making the sauce (or freeze up to 1 month).
• Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pine nuts; fry until toasted, swirling the pan. Transfer the nuts with a slotted spoon to paper towels and season with salt. Add the shallots and garlic to the pan and cook until soft, 3 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Add the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and toss; cook until the tomatoes are just soft, 2 more minutes.
• Cook the gnocchi in a large pot of salted boiling water until tender, about 1 minute after they float to the surface. Drain and toss with the sauce. Top with the toasted pine nuts and more basil and pecorino.

ONE-PAN CHICKEN AND GNOCCHI IN TOMATO-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the dried Italian seasoning and a good pinch of salt. Arrange the chicken in the pan, cover and sear for 5 minutes. Flip, cover and sear the chicken another 5 minutes. (It won't be cooked all the way through, but that's okay! We'll finish in a bit.) Remove the chicken from the pan.
• Add a splash of water to the pan to deglaze, if needed, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits. Add the zucchini to the pan in a single layer. Season with a pinch of salt and sear for 2 minutes. Flip and sear until nicely charred on both sides, another minute or two. Add the chicken (and its juices) back to the pan, and bring the heat down to medium-low. Add the tomato sauce, along with about 1/3 cup water swirled in the jar, along with the gnocchi. Using tongs, nestle the gnocchi down in the sauce, so that it's all covered. Cover with a lid and bring the heat up to medium. Simmer until the gnocchi is tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Divide the dish among dinner bowls, and use forks to shred the chicken a little, if you want. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
• Serve immediately!

POTATO GNOCCHI WITH TOMATO-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, and boil them until tender. Drain, and refrigerate overnight.
• Mash the potatoes well, or pass them through a ricer until smooth. Spread the potatoes on a flat surface, and make a well in the middle. In a bowl, beat the egg yolks and pour them into the center of the well. Add the olive oil and salt and pepper. Stir slowly.
• While mixing, knead in the flour and the potatoes a little at a time. The dough should be moist but not sticky.
• On a floured work surface take one-fourth of the dough, and knead until it feels smooth (about 2 to 3 minutes). Roll the dough into a log approximately 1 inch thick. Cut the log into 1/2-inch-long pieces. Dust the pieces with flour. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
• To give the dough the traditional gnocchi shape, place a piece of dough over the side of a cheese grater that has three or four long smile-shaped holes. Press the dough down over the hole, and gently roll it out to give it a shell shape. (This takes a few tries to get the technique.) Repeat with all the dough.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi all at once, and stir gently so they do not stick to the pot. When they are done they will float to the top. With a perforated spoon, remove them and serve immediately, or drop them into ice water until needed, then briefly reheat in boiling water.
• In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium flame and add the garlic. Cook until the garlic is golden. Increase heat to high, and add all of the tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes break open. Lower heat to simmer, and cook for 30 minutes.
• About 10 minutes before the sauce is done, add the basil leaves, season with salt and pepper, and stir gently. Taste for seasonings and serve.