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Sweet Potato Gnocchi

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Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Serves 8 to 10 as a first course

However you sauce these gnocchi, keep it simple so their flavor can shine. I sautéed the gnocchi in a sage browned butter after they came out of the boiling water. This quick sauté leaves the gnocchi slightly crisp and pleasantly brown on the outside and tender on the inside. This recipe is adapted from Epicurious.com.

3 medium-large sweet potatoes, halved lengthwise
12 ounces ricotta cheese (drained if watery)
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, preferably Parmigiano Reggiano
1 1/2 teaspoons salt and ground black pepper
Pinch grated or ground nutmeg (optional)
About 2 cups of flour, more for rolling

Adjust oven to lowest position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Place potatoes, cut side down on a small foil- or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until fork tender, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly.

Holding the potato in a pot holder-protected hand, scoop potato flesh into a bowl to cool completely. (You’ll need about 3 cups); mash with a fork. Mix in ricotta. Add cheese,1 1/2 teaspoons salt, several grinds of pepper, and nutmeg; mix until well blended.

Using more or less than the suggested amount, add flour ½ cup at a time and continue to mix until a soft (but not too sticky) dough has formed.

Divide dough into 6 pieces. Working 1 piece at a time, use your hands to roll dough into a long rope about ½ to ¾ inch in diameter. Cut the rope into ¾ inch lengths. If you’re feeling adventurous, roll each gnocchi over the tine of a fork to get those restaurant-style indentations.

Repeat the rolling and cutting with each portion of dough. Transfer gnocchi in a single layer to a large, rimmed baking sheet and freeze them for at least 30 minutes, which helps them hold together during boiling. (Can be frozen in zipper-lock freezer bags for up to 3 months.)

When ready to cook the gnocchi, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Working in small batches, cook gnocchi until they start to float to the top—this indicates that they are cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and top as suggested (see above).

About Sharon Damelio

I love to cook and to write–both of which I learned at my parents’ elbows. After graduating from college, I worked at Fine Cooking magazine as the Assistant Web Editor. After two glorious years there, I returned to graduate school and now work at WhyHunger, an NYC-based nonprofit that is building a movement to end hunger and increase access to fresh, nutritious food. In the kitchen, I fancy myself the culinary version of an armchair-traveler, but I’m also a devoted baker. Some days, when work is overwhelming and the world seems bleak, methodically creating a batch of bread, cookies, or scones is all the relaxation I need.

15 Comments

  1. Sharon says

    As you can see in the photo, I did not roll these over the tines of a fork. I was skeptical about the purpose of those little indentations (besides frustrating me), but apparently they are for holding onto sauce.

    Anthony’s Italian grandmother (who’s been making these for years) taught him this little trick where you place your thumb in the center of the little piece of dough, press down slightly, and then drag the gnocchi toward you. Ideally, the gnocchi rolls over your thumb and it creates the little indentations you can see in this picture. Don’t ask me for a better description, because I don’t have one.

    You can just gently press down on them for roughly the same effect. OR you can just leave them plain, it really doesn’t matter.

    Reply

  4. DessertForTwo says

    Oh yum! I’ve been looking for a sweet potato gnocchi recipe that didn’t also have white potatoes in it. Thanks so much!

    I’m not a big fan of sage…what other herb would you suggest?

    Reply

  14. Chris says

    Dessertfortwo – if you don’t like sage you could try rosemary; it goes well with most sweet potato dishes but may be a bit strong for you – you could try something mild like chervil or tarragon or just plain old basil. I put nutmeng in plain potato gnocchi and think nutmeg would work – ground allspice might be even better – throw in a bit of bourbon with the allspice & butter – just perfecto !!

    Chris

    Reply

  15. TheIronYou says

    I tried the recipe: delicious! Thank you for posting it.
    Anyway, I’m a big fan of sweet potatoes, I recently write an article on their health benefits, check it out: http://www.theironyou.com/2011/04/sweet-potato-hollywoods-stars-favorite.html
    Peace
    TheIronYou

    Reply

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