Are you craving a delicious and comforting Italian dish that's easy to make? Look no further than gnudi ricotta gnocchi! In this recipe, we'll walk you through the steps to create these pillowy, cheese-filled dumplings that are perfect for any occasion.
First things first: gather all your ingredients. You'll need 1 pound of fresh or dried egg pasta, 2 cups of ricotta cheese, 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 1 egg, a pinch of salt and pepper, and chopped fresh herbs like basil and parsley (optional).
Next, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, mix together the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, salt, and pepper in a bowl until well combined. Add some chopped fresh herbs if you'd like.
Once the water is boiling, add a small amount of pasta to the pot and cook it until al dente. This will help us determine the right consistency for our gnudi. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
Now that we have our pasta cooked, drain it and mix it with the ricotta cheese mixture until well combined. If the mixture is too dry or crumbly, add a little bit of the reserved pasta cooking water until you achieve the desired consistency. We want our gnudi to be soft and pillowy, so don't skimp on the moisture!
Using a spoon or cookie cutter, form small balls of dough into the shape of gnocchi. This will give us a consistent size that cooks evenly. Place the gnocchi on a floured surface while you work through the rest of the dough.
Once you've formed all the gnocchi, bring the water back to a boil and add them to the pot one at a time. Use a slotted spoon to carefully remove each piece of gnocchi from the water as soon as it starts to float to the surface. This will help prevent overcooking.
Now that our gnocchi are cooked, we can serve them with your favorite sauce or simply toss them with some butter, olive oil, and chopped fresh herbs. If you'd like to add a touch of decadence, you could also top them with some grated Parmesan cheese.
And there you have it! Gnudi ricotta gnocchi that are bursting with flavor and comfort. With just a few simple steps, you can enjoy this delicious Italian dish in no time. Buon appetito!