Ricotta Pumpkin Gnocchi With Brown Butter Recipes

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.

PUMPKIN GNOCCHI WITH BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place pumpkin, cut-sides down, on a cookie sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until fork tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Turn oven off.
• Scoop out pumpkin flesh while still warm and place in a medium bowl. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth, then transfer to a colander and let drain for at least 1 hour.
• Measure 2 cups drained pumpkin and place in a large bowl, reserving any extra for another use. Add 1 teaspoon sea salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper to the 2 cups pumpkin. Taste mixture and adjust seasonings. Mix in 1/4 cup of flour with a fork. Continue adding flour, 1/4 cup at a time, until the dough balls up in the bowl, but still remains tacky to the touch.
• Lightly flour a work surface and your hands. Gently knead the dough with your hands for about 1 minute, adding small amounts of flour until dough is just barely tacky. Allow dough to rest for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fill a 5-quart pot with water. Add remaining 3 teaspoons salt and bring to a boil.
• Divide dough into 4 balls. Roll the first ball out into a 1/2-inch thick log, then cut into 1/2-inch long pieces. Roll each 1/2-inch piece quickly with your hand to make a smooth, oblong shape, then roll over the tines of a fork, if you'd like. Place the finished gnocchi on parchment paper, making sure they do not touch, as you roll the remaining 3 balls of dough.
• Drop 1/2 of the gnocchi into the boiling water. Cook until they begin to float and are tender yet firm to the bite, 5 to 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove to a plate, and repeat with remaining gnocchi.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat until frothy, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir a few times until the bubbles disappear and cook until butter is rich smelling with a slight brown hue, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, quickly toss in the gnocchi, and serve.