Last year, I found a major new obsession…GNOCCHI! I can’t believe it took me so long to try this incredible dish.
It’s this perfect balance of soft pasta dough and a golden, crispy exterior, leaving a wonderful contrast of textures.
The best part about gnocchi, is the amount of different combinations and flavors you can make!
One of my all time favorites is this Sweet Potato Gnocchi with a Sage Brown Butter Sauce. It’s soooo good, that I could eat the entire giant bowl by myself!
Sweet Potato Sage Gnocchi
Serves 8-10
+ 2 pounds sweet potatoes rinsed, patted dry, pierced all over with fork
+12-ounce fresh ricotta cheese, drained
+1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
+ 2 tablespoons brown sugar
+ salt and pepper
+ 1 clove garlic
+ 1 Tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
+ dash crushed red pepper (optional)
+1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
+2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
+ 1 cup unsalted butter
+ 6 tablespoons chopped fresh sage plus whole leaves for garnish
Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place sweet potatoes on plate; microwave on high until tender, about 5 minutes per side. Cut in half and cool. Scrape sweet potato flesh into medium bowl and mash; transfer 3 cups to large bowl. Add ricotta cheese; blend well. Add Parmesan cheese, brown sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, garlic clove (minced), sage, crushed red pepper, and nutmeg; mash to blend. Mix in flour, about 1/2 cup at a time, until soft dough forms.
Turn dough out onto floured surface; divide into 6 equal pieces. Rolling between palms and floured work surface, form each piece into 20-inch-long rope (about 1 inch in diameter), sprinkling with flour as needed if sticky. Cut each rope into 20 pieces. Roll each piece over tines of fork to indent. Transfer to baking sheet.
Bring large pot of water to boil; add 2 tablespoons salt and return to boil. Working in batches, boil gnocchi until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer gnocchi to clean rimmed baking sheet. Cool completely. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
Preheat oven to 300°F. Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until butter solids are brown and have toasty aroma, swirling pan occasionally, about 5 minutes.
Add chopped sage (mixture will bubble up). Turn off heat. Season sage butter generously with salt and pepper.
Transfer half of sage butter to large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add half of gnocchi. Sauté until gnocchi are heated through, about 6 minutes. Empty skillet onto rimmed baking sheet; place in oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining sage butter and gnocchi.
Divide gnocchi and sauce among shallow bowls. Garnish with sage leaves.
(Adapted from Here)
A Pinch Here, A Dash There 