Gnocchi In Fontina Sauce Recipes

GNOCCHI ALLA BAVA (POTATO GNOCCHI WITH FONTINA CHEESE SAUCE) RECIPE

Steps:

• For the Gnocchi: Adjust oven rack to middle position, and preheat oven to 450°F (232°C). Set potatoes either on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, on a baking sheet lined with a layer of salt, or directly on the oven's racks. Bake until completely tender throughout when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes. Transfer potatoes to a work surface. Using tongs to hold hot potatoes, slice each in half lengthwise.
• Using a spoon, scoop potato flesh into a ricer or food mill fitted with the finest disk. Press potato flesh onto a clean work surface, spreading it into an even layer, and allow steam to escape for a few minutes.
• Drizzle egg yolks all over. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
• Scoop 3/4 cup (100g) flour into a fine-mesh strainer and tap to dust flour all over potatoes.
• Using pastry blender or bench scraper, chop down repeatedly all over to cut flour and egg into potato.
• Using a bench scraper, gather up shaggy potato mass and pat into a loose ball. Press ball flat with hands, then fold in half using bench scraper and press down again.
• Scoop remaining 1/4 cup (30g) flour into sieve and dust all over potato dough. Continue to gently fold and press, just until a uniform dough comes together; make sure to simply fold and press down and avoid the smearing motion more commonly used when kneading bread. Add additional flour as necessary to achieve a dough that's tender and moist yet can hold its shape, but not wet and sticky (whether you need more flour, and how much you might need, will depend on natural moisture content of the potatoes you use, which is highly variable, but a dough that's too wet and pasty is prone to falling apart when boiled).
• Dust potato dough all over with flour and gently form into a log.
• Clean work area well and dust with fresh flour. Using bench scraper, slice off a roughly 2-inch-thick portion of dough and roll into a snake about 1/2 inch thick; use a light touch as you roll, trying to use your palms more than your fingers, and dusting as necessary with flour to prevent sticking.
• Using bench scraper, cut snake into 1-inch portions, trimming off uneven ends as necessary. If desired, gently roll each gnocco on the tines of a fork to give it a ridged exterior. Transfer gnocchi to a well-floured area or baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough. If not cooking recipe start-to-finish, baking sheet of gnocchi can be transferred to the freezer at this point (see make-ahead and storage section for full freezing instructions).
• For the Sauce and to Serve: Bring a large pot of salted water to a simmer over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, in a 3-quart saucier or 12-inch stainless-steel skillet, combine cream, Fontina, butter, a pinch of black pepper, and nutmeg.
• Set over medium heat and cook, whisking constantly, until butter and cheese are fully melted and a smooth, silky sauce has formed, about 4 minutes. Season with salt, but only if necessary. Keep warm, stirring frequently to prevent a skin from forming.
• Working in batches to prevent crowding the pot, add gnocchi to simmering water and cook, gently shaking the pot as needed to keep them from sticking, until they float to the surface. Using a spider skimmer, lift floating gnocchi from the water and let drain, then transfer to cheese sauce. Toss very gently with a large spoon to coat, being careful not to break gnocchi. Repeat with remaining gnocchi and toss gently once more to coat.
• Remove from heat. Divide gnocchi and sauce between warmed serving bowls, top each portion with grated nutmeg, and serve.

GNOCCHI IN FONTINA SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
• Once the gnocchi goes into the pot, start the sauce, as you want the gnocchi to be done first. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, and cook for a few minutes, until tender. Stir in the cream, and heat to almost a boil. Gradually mix in the fontina and parmesan cheeses, being careful not to boil. Stir until smooth, then remove from the heat immediately, or the sauce may clump.
• Place gnocchi into serving dishes, and spoon the sauce over them. Garnish with chopped fresh basil.

CLASSIC POTATO GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large stock pot, cover with cold water and, add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring the pot to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are soft and yield easily when poked with a knife, about 45-55 minutes.In a small saucepan set over medium-low heat, melt the butter and rosemary. Remove from the heat and let the rosemary steep while the potatoes cook.Remove the potatoes from the water, let cool slightly, and peel while still warm. Using a food mill fitted with the plate with the smallest holes, mill the potatoes into a large mixing bowl. Season the potatoes with 1 teaspoon of salt.Discard the rosemary from the melted butter. Add the cream, eggs, egg yolks, melted butter, and a few swipes of fresh nutmeg to the potato mixture. Stir to combine.
• Mound the flour on a clean work surface. Create a well in the center of the flour, and pour the potato mixture into the well. Using a bench scraper, gradually cut the flour into the potato mixture, until all of the potato has been incorporated, and the dough is loose and shaggy. Bring the loose dough together with the bench scraper. Turn the dough a few times using the bench scraper, to incorporate some of the excess flour that remains. Before you add all of the flour, test the gnocchi by rolling and poaching a few. Test the dough additionally by poking it with your finger. If your finger is easily removed and the dough isn't sticking to it, then it's ready to roll and shape. Roll the dough into long, thin ropes, and cut into half-inch pieces. Gently roll the pieces over the tines of a fork with your fingers, to achieve the traditional shape of the pasta. Use a generous dusting of flour to help hold the shape of the pasta. Repeat with the remaining dough. The gnocchi can be stored in the refrigerator (on a rimmed baking sheet, generously dusted with flour) for up to 24 hours.
• Once the dough has been tested and rolled, bring a pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Drop the gnocchi in the water and poach for a few minutes, until they start to float. Remove with a slotted spoon.
• To serve the gnocchi, melt a few additional tablespoons of butter in a medium sauté pan. Add the poached gnocchi and toss to coat. Add a few splashes of the salted pasta water to the pan, and taste for salt. Divide into shallow bowls and garnish with a generous grating of cheese. Serve immediately. Fontina Sauce (optional, not in video):In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, warm 2 cups heavy cream over medium-low heat. Add cream to a blender, and turn on low. Add 1½ cups grated Fontina and continue to blend until a smooth sauce is formed. Thin with ½ cup vegetable stock, as necessary. Season with salt and freshly grated nutmeg to taste.

SPINACH GNOCCHI WITH FONTINA CHEESE

Steps:

• Steam potatoes until very tender, about 35 minutes. Cool potatoes slightly and peel. Mash potatoes in large bowl until smooth. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring 2 inches of salted water to boil in large pot. Add spinach leaves to pot and cook until wilted, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes. Drain spinach, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible from spinach. Puree spinach in processor, adding reserved cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time if necessary to help puree and scraping down sides of processor bowl occasionally.
• Transfer spinach mixture to bowl with potatoes. Mix in egg, ground nutmeg and enough flour until soft and slightly sticky dough forms. Season dough to taste with salt.
• Dust baking sheet with flour. Working in batches and using floured hands, roll 1/4 cup dough on lightly floured work surface to form 12-inch rope. Cut rope into 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece between palms to form oval ball. Lightly flour the wires of a whisk. Using thumb, gently roll each ball down length of wires, making ribbed impressions in gnocchi. Transfer gnocchi to prepared baking sheet. Repeat rolling, cutting and shaping of remaining dough.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter 13x9-inch baking dish. Working in batches, add gnocchi to large pot of boiling salted water and cook until gnocchi rise to surface of water, about 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon, remove gnocchi from water, draining off excess, and transfer to prepared baking dish. Pour 1/4 cup melted butter over gnocchi; toss thoroughly to coat. Top with Fontina cheese slices. (Gnocchi can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Bake until gnocchi are heated through and cheese bubbles, about 10 minutes.