Last year I finally splurged and bought myself a pasta maker and although I do still use dried (store bought) pasta, nothing can compare to the ritual and rewarding meal one has with making and eating pasta.
Another food journey has taken me to making my own bread. I’ve become kind of a bread snob, raising my nose up at inferior bread served to me on the occasions when I do venture out of the home for a meal. You can thank Zoe and Jeff for creating this bread snob clique, mea culpa. 
Their book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes is already one of the most used & cherished cookbooks in my collection I make bread 2-3 times a week because it’s easy, it’s cheaper than buying from outside and it’s delicious! Again, I encourage you to go out and buy the book (if you haven’t already). In the meantime, have a look at Zoe and Jeff in this Youtube clip, where they lay out, plain & simply their method for Artisan Bread in Five Minutes.
I know, now you’re going to buy the book and make some bread? I thought so!
The main topic of today’s post is making Gnocchi. Gnocchi are something which straddle dumplings and pasta, as potatoes and flour (and egg) are all in the ingredients list here.
Gnocchi were another first for me but I was sure to consult two trusted friends in the food blogging world, Mike of Mike’s Table and Stephane of Zen Can Cook. Both of their posts on making gnocchi were inspiration and they definitely boosted my confidence.
Another source I consulted (all good things come in threes) was a favoured Italian chef and food personality, Antonio Carluccio. I have his book, An Invitation to Italian Cooking and I’ve found it to be a wonderful resource to consult to for wonderful, diverse and basic Italian recipes. A keeper in the book collection.
What have I learned from Gnocchi making?
- Use starchy potatoes, a Russet or other baking potato. Bake or boil them with their skins on (to retain starches and nutrients)
- Use a potato ricer. The key to making good gnocchi or gnocchi that are NOT heavy and dense is to carefully peel the skins off the potatoes and pass them through the ricer while still hot. Then, you may commence making homemade gnocchi
- After gleaning several gnocchi recipes, again ratios come into play and I’m reminded that I need to buy Michael Ruhlman’s latest book, Ratios. To make potato gnocchi, one need only heed the general rule of approx. 2 parts potato and 1 part flour. The “in between” are your eggs, seasonings and flavourings. Stick to this general ratio and your gnocchi should turn out fine.
Today, the meat component of the dish is actually taking a back seat (okay, riding shotgun) as the star here is the gnocchi. For this recipe, I again referred to and used Carluccio’s Milanese recipe, which could be applied to paillards of chicken or veal – your choice.
The meal was rounded out with a basic marinara sauce of hand-crushed tomatoes, some onions, garlic, salt and pepper and a chiffonade of fresh basil.
Making gnocchi is a fun, weekend adventure and if you have children, they can definitely join in on the fun. Make a big batch, lay them out on a parchment or wax paper covered baking tray and freeze them. The next day, you can plop them in a large zip lock bag andcook to order…like for a weeknight meal.
Gnocchi with a side of Veal Milanese
2 lbs. of Russet or other starchy baking potatoes
approx. 1 cup of all-purpose flour
1 egg, lightly beaten
sea salt
- Fill a large pot with some cold water. Add some salt to the water along with the potatoes (whole). Bring to a boil and cook the potatoes until fork-tender 30-40 minutes.
- Carefully remove the potatoes from the water and allow to cool a bit until you can safely handle the still warm potatoes (use gloves if needed). Using the back of a knife, carefully peel away the skins of the potatoes and discard them.
- Pass each potato through your ricer directly onto your work surface. Sprinkle some egg over top of the potatoes along with some flour and begin working the egg and flour into the potatoes gently with your hands. A metal pastry scraper comes in handy here to pull in all your mixture back into your pile.
- Continue repeating the process of sprinkling egg and flour over your mixture, scraping underneath and folding until you get a light crumble.
- When your egg and flour have been incorporated with the potatoes, gently knead your mixture. If the mixture is still too sticky, add some more flour and knead (gently). Your dough should be moist but not sticky and formed into a ball
- Cut your dough in half, then half again and again into half until you have eight equal pieces.
- Sprinkle some flour on your work surface and using your hands, roll each piece into a long, thin log – about the thickness of your thumb. Use a knife or your pastry scraper to cut into 3/4 inch pieces that look like “pillows”. Dust the pieces with some more flour.
- To shape your gnocchi, you need a regular fork. Place your “pillows” against the tines of the fork and with a gentle confidence, press and roll the gnocchi down the fork. The motion should that of the pillow rolling down the fork, like a slide. The gnocchi should curl into a slight “C” formation with grooves created on one side from the fork and small hole created on the inside from this same procedure.
- Set each Gnocchi aside, dust with flour and keep on practicing. After about 6 or 7, you’ll get the hang of making Gnocchi and they will easily roll off the fork and form beautiful, homemade gnocchi.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a some salt. Drop your Gnocchi into the boiling water in batches and you will know they are ready when they float to the top. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a platter. Gently toss your favourite sauce and serve immediately with the rest of your dinner.
Veal Milanese
(serves 4)
4 veal or chicken paillards (cutlets)
1 egg
60 gr. of bread crumbs
4 Tbsp. of grated Parmesan
5-6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
salt and pepper
oil for frying
lemon slices for garnish
- Flatten the meat using a meat pounder/tenderizer. Beat the egg and add your chopped basil, grated cheese and some salt and pepper.
- Dip each of the cutlets in the egg mixture and then roll them in the bread crumbs.
- Heat some olive oil in a large pan and fry over medium-high heat, about 2-3 minutes a side or until the breading has turned a golden brown. Cook in batches and reserve/keep warm until the rest of your dinner courses are ready.
- Serve with a slice of lemon
If you are not reading this post in a feed reader or at https://kalofagas.ca then the site you are reading is illegally publishing copyrighted material. Contact me at truenorth67 AT gmail DOT COM. All recipes, text and photographs in this post are the original creations & property of the author.
© 2007-2009 Peter Minakis
45 Responses
I think I am the only one yet to make no knead bread :)
Peter – Making light, delicious potato gnocchi is a real art, and you seem to have mastered it. Love the breads too.
Peter, this was a wonderful article. I’ve definitely wanted to try my hand at gnocchi, and your post has given me the confidence to try.
Here is a great (ie. more funny than useful, but still useful) you tube clip on getting jackets off of boiled russet potatoes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4W0qIPJmoo
I have neve rmade gnocchi at home.
I love that artisian book, i am so clad that i have the book.
First time i tried a bread from the book i was really shocked how easy they were to make.
I do have a book from Antonio curlaccio ( in brittian they say he is the maestro of italian cooking)
His recipes are with few ingridients but packes with flavours.
Wow Peter that bread looks to die for, as does the gnocchi. I love the way you shaped them.
I am sure the people you cooked for were very happy afterwards.
After your recommendation, I have also ordered artisan bread in five minutes and can’t wait to start making their bread. From what I saw on YouTube they are really on to something new! Your gniocchi and veal look awesome.
Oh! This would be perfect for the current weather we are experiencing! The plump gnocchi look wonderful and that Milanese to die for! Thanks for all the tips Peter (and I think I need to get the bread book).
Peter, Your gnocchi are leaving me wanting a plate full, they look so heavenly!
I have also made this bread many times over, love the simplicity of it, & that produces a wonderful loaf each & every time…. Kudos
yes the reward of making yoru own pasta is a hearty one.
I have not had the luxury of making gnocchi as they never shape up right since I’m still dyslexic about the whole imprint in the middle thing. I know crazy.
But anywho, Peter, this is a FEAST.
Fabulous looking gnocchi Peter! Making my own gnocchi is on my to-do list.
Wow, Peter! What a fabulous feast ~ I would be happy with your Gnocci or the Veal Milanese. BOTH on the plate? That’s heavenly!
Very nice, and thanks for your tips for light and tender gnocchi. :)
Gnocchi are a bit hard to master, but I think this looks brilliant, you even got the lovely grooves on them! Great job, awesome dinner!
Thanks!
Yep, this is definitely yum. I am very lazy with the idea of making gnocchi, though. Something about the potato ricer and I shrink from the task. Your gnocchi looks so good, though, that I probably need to get over it and start ricing.
Okay, I will go get the book – the bread looks perfect. I’ve always wanted to make gnocchi but have yet to try it. Your recipe looks like the one for me.
Love, love, love gnocchi! T’s Sicilian Grandmother taught me to make them but…shhhhhh! She used instant Oneida potatoes!!! :)
Wow, good job on that gnocchi, it looks beautiful! I can’t imagine not having AB5MD, I too have become a bread snob
Looks great! I haven’t tried making my own gnocchi yet. I keep meaning to, but I somehow never get around to it… Great job!
Homemade gnocchi = heaven!!
And I recently wrote a post about my woes baking bread, and I got so many messages from people saying “just do artisan bread in 5 minutes a day! you will never go back to anything else!!” i need to go get the book this weekend!
It’s only breakfast time here…too early for veal and gnocchi?
What a great meal! I am impressed with the gnocchi. I make bread but have never felt all that inspired to make pasta for some reason. But gnocchi? It seems that has its own unique appeal. I’m tempted.
I do plan to check out the bread book.
Gnocchi and ABin5, the perfect post! We love making our own gnocchi. So cheap and so tasty!
i think i;ll get that book too
as for gnocchi, i never got into them so much, but i too love making pasta with my mother’s old machine
Professional looking gnocchi and paired so nicely with a veal milanese. Only thing that could improve the plate for me is a topping of a Greek salad on top of the veal!
Your gnocchi look great! I definitely want to try making them one of these days. I’ve just about worked up the courage.
Oh man, I bet those are good!
I love fresh pastas, should start making mine. That bread is so good. That dough is also good when you make pizza. Great meal you are featuring Peter.
You never cease to make me drool.
Seriously — those gnocchi are just about perfect. I’ve been in denial about buying a ricer for years (excuses, excuses)… but you’re pulling me closer to the edge, Peter. I might just crack.
I am still buying my gnocchi fresh because of my fear of trying to make it myself!!! Thx for the easy steps and inspiration, Peter!!! I will conquer!!
A very appetizing article.
For a vegetarian like me Gnocchi is a very pleasurable dish.
I have enjoyed it a lot when I was living in Europe.
Can you also mail recipe for the German KARTFFELKLOESSE / Potato Dumplings?
I’d never be able to make gnocchi like yours – you’ve done a fantastic job there Peter! And great pictures too. Everything looks really yummy.
What a lovely meal. You’ve given me the push to make my own gnocchi. Thanks for an excellent tutorial.
I agree Peter Artisan Bread in 5 is my bread bible!!!!
Nice looking gnocchi my friend! Once of the most cherished of pastas.
Peter, the gnocchi are as close to perfect as they can get. It’s the “Master’s Hand” at work again.
MMMmmmm…gnocchi. I have a pasta maker, but I’m only successful at making my own pasta about 75% of the time. However, I never mind making my own gnocchi because they’re so easy and forgiving to make. Your photo was droolworthy and puts me in mind of making some more gnocchi pronto!
Ah! Now you are speaking my language! I would love this dinner. Good job on the gnocchi. I like your words..”gentle confidence”.
xox
Peter are you sure you’re not part Italian? come clean. It looks amazing… I’m always hesitant to order gnocchi at a restaurant because it’s such a crap shoot… so I’ll have to give these a try.
Just too finger-licking good. You just make the whole foodie world come alive with taste & flavour…& good company too peter. mmmmmmmmmm
Excellent looking gnocchi. Reminds me I need to attempt some again soon.
Thanks Peter for the fantastic recipe and the excellent explanations! I’ll let you know as soon as they are made. Your gnocchi are perfect!! And that veal milanese looks too scrumptious for words. Cheers!