Ricotta Basil Gnocchi Recipes

RICOTTA-BASIL GNOCCHI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix ricotta, 1/2 cup romano cheese, the basil, eggs, olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until well blended. Add 2 cups of the semolina and stir until evenly moistened.
• Scrape dough onto a board lightly coated with semolina and knead until it forms a smooth ball that's no longer sticky, about 20 turns, adding more semolina as needed to prevent sticking.
• Cut dough into 10 pieces. With your fingers, roll each into a 1/2-inch-thick rope. Cut ropes into 1-inch pieces and lay, slightly apart, on baking sheets lightly coated with semolina.
• In an 8- to 10-quart pan over high heat, bring 5 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil. Gently push gnocchi into water and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender to bite, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Spoon marinara sauce into a bowl and mound gnocchi on top. Add more salt, romano, and pepper to taste.

CHEF JOHN'S BASIL RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Briefly blanch basil leaves in simmering water, about 20 seconds. Transfer immediately to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking. Drain on towels. Place basil in bowl of a blender. Add eggs. Blend until basil is blended in and mixture achieves an even green color with flecks of basil.
• Place ricotta in a mixing bowl. Add basil/egg mixture, salt, cayenne, Parmesan cheese, and flour. Thoroughly mix together using a spatula; whisk mixture to ensure ingredient are evenly blended. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and firm, about 2 hours.
• Scoop out a small portion of dough using a teaspoon. Using a second spoon, shape into a rounded oval. Repeat until you have enough gnocchi for a batch, about 6 or so.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a simmer. Drop shaped gnocchi in batches into pot as you form them. After a minute or so they will rise to the surface. Continue simmering until they spring back to the touch when you remove one from the water to test it, 2 to 3 more minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Optional step: Melt butter in a skillet until bubbling. Add cooked gnocchi and brown on each side. Serve with a dusting of grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of the butter from the pan.

WHIPPED BASIL RICOTTA

Steps:

• Combine ricotta cheese, basil, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and pepper flakes in a mini food processor and process until all ingredients are well incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes.

GNUDI (RICOTTA GNOCCHI)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add basil and cook uncovered until just wilted, about 1 minute. Immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain. Squeeze very dry and finely chop.
• Mix ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup flour, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, egg yolks, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Add basil, white pepper, and salt; mix until gnudi mixture is well-combined.
• Dust your hands with remaining 1/4 cup flour and form gnudi mixture into small balls.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add lemon juice. Boil gnudi in batches until they float to the top of the water, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI

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.

RICOTTA BASIL GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Submerge the basil and spinach leaves in the water for ten seconds, remove and shock in ice water immediately. Remove from the ice water and squeeze very, very dry. Rough chop with a knife.
• Place the chopped greens in a food processor along with the egg and a little salt and pepper and chop until a paste forms and no large pieces remain.
• Place the paste in a bowl along with the ricotta and mix well. Check seasoning, then add the flour. Mix gently until all the flour is incorporated but be careful not to over mix.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Roll the dough into strands about ¾-inch thick and about one foot long on a well-floured cutting board. Cut with a sharp, clean knife in pieces about ¾-inch wide.
• Drop the gnocchi a few dozen at a time into the boiling salted water. After about one minute, they should float. Remove the gnocchi from the water and place on a pan and drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil. Continue the process until all of the gnocchi are done. Keep the water hot.
• Warm a large sauté pan and melt the butter and at the same time drop the gnocchi back in the boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove the gnocchi from the water and place in the pan. Toss with the butter, adding a few tablespoons of the cooking water to the pan.
• Remove from the heat, portion into bowls or on plates and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH LEMON BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, whip the ricotta to break up the curds. Add the egg and stir until evenly combined.
• 2. Add flour and mix well.
• 3. Roll into snake, cut into 1/2 inch piece and make an indentation with your thumb into each gnocchi.
• 4. Dust with corn meal.
• 5. Place in boiling water when they rise to the top they are done.
• 6. MAKE PESTO BEFORE COOKING GNOCCHI!! Place lemon in food processor and process till finely chopped.
• 7. Add basil, pine nuts and garlic blend.
• 8. Add cheese and drizzle olive oil in as processing.
• 9. In a medium hot saute pan add 2-3 tablespoons of oil and 4-5 strips of lemon zest
• 10. Add drained gnocchi to saute pan add prepared lemon pesto toss add some parmesan cheese. Serve hot.