Recipe: Cook eggless spinach gnocchi in 4 simple steps
What's the story
Spinach gnocchi is a vibrant and nutritious twist on the classic Italian potato dumpling. Originating from Italy, gnocchi has been a staple in Mediterranean cuisine for centuries, with each region adding its local flavors. This eggless version incorporates spinach for an extra dose of greens, making it a perfect vegetarian dish to enjoy any day of the week. So let's get cooking!
Ingredients list
Gather the following ingredients
To create this vegetarian dish, gather two cups of all-purpose flour, one cup of ricotta cheese, and one cup of fresh spinach, finely chopped. Season with one teaspoon of salt and enrich the flavor with half a teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Finally, have two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese ready, along with some extra flour for dusting your workspace.
Step 1
Prepare the spinach mixture
Start by steaming your finely chopped spinach until it's sufficiently wilted. Allow it to cool just a bit, then take care to press out the extra moisture using either a clean kitchen towel or a sieve for best results. In a sizable bowl, blend the spinach thoroughly with the ricotta cheese. For an enhanced taste, fold in the ground nutmeg and grated Parmesan cheese.
Step 2
Forming the gnocchi dough
Add salt to the spinach blend and gradually mix in the all-purpose flour to create a soft dough. It's crucial not to over-knead; halt when ingredients are just combined. Lightly flour your work area, then split the dough into sections. Roll each piece into long ropes, roughly three-quarters of an inch in diameter, ready for cutting and shaping into gnocchi.
Step 3
Cutting and shaping gnocchi
Slice each dough rope into half-inch segments to form the gnocchi dumplings. To give them a textured surface that will hold sauce more effectively, press each segment onto the back of a fork or use a specialized gnocchi board to create ridges. Arrange the prepared gnocchi on a floured baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced apart to prevent sticking.
Step 4
Cooking and serving gnocchi
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over high heat. Cook gnocchi in batches by dropping them into boiling water; they are done when they float to the surface after about two minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and serve hot with your favorite marinara sauce or simply drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle more Parmesan cheese on top.