Ricotta Gnocchi With Roasted Corn Brown Butter Crispy Prosciutto Parmesan And Fresh Basil Recipes

PARMESAN-BASIL CORN CAKES

Steps:

• Cut the kernels off the corn. Pulse half the corn with the egg in a food processor; transfer to a medium bowl. Mix in the remaining corn, the flour, parmesan, basil, cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Coat a large skillet with oil and heat over medium heat. Cook spoonfuls until golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan, olive oil, eggs and 1 teaspoon salt with a whisk in a large mixing bowl. Add the all-purpose flour in 3 parts, stirring with a rubber spatula.
• Bring the dough together in a ball and cut off one-quarter of it. Dust the work surface with all-purpose flour to prevent sticking, and roll the cut-off piece of dough into a dowel shape about 5/8 inch in diameter. Cut the dowel into 5/8-inch pieces. Dust some parchment paper with semolina flour and place the gnocchi on it to prevent sticking. Repeat with the rest of the dough, quarter by quarter.
• Cook the gnocchi in the boiling water for 2 minutes. Serve tossed with a bit of the Pancetta Tomato Sauce. Alternatively, you can freeze the uncooked gnocchi for up to 2 weeks.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook until the fat has rendered and the pancetta is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the pancetta from the pan and reserve, leaving the fat behind.
• Add the diced onions to the hot pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the onions have softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the crushed tomatoes, cover and bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, then remove the lid, add the reserved pancetta and cook an additional 10 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper, stir in the basil and serve.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH SAGE AND BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• For the gnocchi: Combine the flour, Parmesan, lemon zest and salt in a medium bowl. Add the ricotta and egg. Mix well with a wooden spoon or your fingers until the dough just comes together, taking care not to overwork the dough, which could cause it to become tough.
• Scrape the dough onto a well-floured work surface and pat into a rough square. Cut the dough into fourths with a bench scraper or knife. Gently roll each piece into a foot-long rope about an inch in diameter, flouring as needed to prevent the dough from sticking to the work surface. Cut each rope into 1/2-inch pieces with a bench scraper or knife and set aside.
• For the sauce: Heat 6 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat in a skillet large enough to accommodate all of the gnocchi without crowding. When the butter begins to foam, add the gnocchi to the skillet and cook, turning as necessary, until they're browned and crisp on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the sage leaves and cook until crisp, 30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in 1/2 cup water, the lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Remove from the heat and sprinkle in the Parmesan while turning the gnocchi. Let the sauce ingredients emulsify and form a silken coating, about 1 minute. Add more water if the skillet looks too dry. Spoon the gnocchi and sauce into shallow bowls and serve immediately.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH ROASTED CORN BROWN BUTTER, CRISPY PROSCIUTTO, PARMESAN AND FRESH BASIL

Steps:

• For the gnocchi: Whisk together the ricotta, egg, lemon zest, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the flour and mix until a soft, slightly wet dough forms, adding more flour if needed. Remove the dough to a lightly floured surface and gently knead until the dough just comes together. Form into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes and up to 1 day.
• With lightly floured hands, shape the dough on a well-floured surface into two 1-inch-thick ropes. Cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces with a lightly floured knife. Arrange in a single layer on a lightly floured parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the gnocchi, in batches if needed, until they float, 2 minutes. Drain well.
• For the corn sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the garlic, shallots and chile and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the corn and saute for 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken stock, bring to a boil and cook until the corn begins to soften, about 10 minutes. Remove the corn to a blender with a slotted spoon and add 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Blend on low speed, pulsing a few times, until smooth, adding more liquid if necessary to create a sauce consistency.
• Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook until warmed through and thickened, about 15 minutes.
• For the prosciutto: Heat the oil in a small saute pan until it begins to shimmer. Fry the prosciutto one slice at a time until crisp, about 1 minute.
• Remove the prosciutto to a plate lined with paper towels and season with pepper. Let cool slightly and crumble into pieces.
• To serve: Melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat until it begins to turn a light amber color. Add the drained gnocchi and cook until lightly golden, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon some of the sauce into shallow bowls and top with the gnocchi. Garnish with shaved Parmesan, crumbled prosciutto and basil.