Try this Italian pesto gnocchi recipe
Gnocchi, a beloved Italian staple, has satisfied many for centuries. This dish hails from Italy and offers various preparation methods to suit different palates and diets. Today's focus is on a vegetarian, eggless version with a homemade pesto sauce. Follow this easy tutorial to craft this comforting meal from scratch. Ready your kitchen; it's time to cook!
Gather the following ingredients
For the gnocchi, you'll need two cups of all-purpose flour, one cup of cooled mashed potatoes, and salt for seasoning. The pesto requires two cups of fresh basil, three garlic cloves, half a cup of pine nuts or walnuts, three-quarters cup of extra virgin olive oil, half a cup of vegetarian Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper adjusted to taste.
Preparing the gnocchi dough
Start by mixing your mashed potatoes with flour in a large bowl. Add a pinch of salt. Knead the mixture gently until it forms a smooth dough. Be careful not to over-knead; otherwise, your gnocchi might turn out too tough. Once your dough is ready, cover it with a damp cloth and let it rest for about 10 minutes.
Shaping and cooking gnocchi
Divide the rested dough into four equal parts. Roll each on a floured surface into long snakes and cut into pillow-shaped pieces with a knife. Press each piece onto the back of a fork to form ridges. Boil salted water in a large pot and cook the gnocchi in batches until they rise to the surface, then remove them promptly with a slotted spoon.
Making pesto sauce
In a food processor or blender combine basil leaves, garlic cloves, pine nuts (or walnuts), and blend until coarsely chopped. While blending at low speed gradually add olive oil until well combined but still slightly chunky for texture's sake. Season with salt and pepper according to taste before giving it one last pulse to mix everything together evenly.
Combining gnocchi with pesto
After cooking and draining the gnocchi, transfer them back into the pot off the heat. Drizzle the homemade pesto sauce over them, tossing gently to ensure each gnocchi is well coated. Serve the dish immediately, topped with a sprinkle of extra grated Parmesan cheese for added flavor. Savor your delicious, vegetarian Italian pesto gnocchi made right at home.
