Ricotta Gnudi

If you don’t know what gnudi (nu-dee) is it’s ravioli filling without the pasta.  Basically it’s a type of gnocchi that can be either boiled or pan fried and topped with red gravy, cream sauce or just enjoyed with a little garlic and olive oil. They were light and fluffy and flavored with fresh grated imported Romano cheese.

Besides Romano or Parmesan cheese, gnudi can be flavored with fresh vegetables such as cooked spinach and leaks or seasoned with fresh herbs such as parsley, basil or sage. Unfortunately I didn’t have any of these things available in the fridge today so I settled for using just the Romano cheese.

If you what to get away from the heavier potato type gnocchi then making this simple Ricotta Gnudi dish is the way to go. It’s easy to prepare and tastes delicious.

INGREDIENTS

Simple Basil Tomato Sauce

  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 2 Tbls of extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 15oz cans of crushed tomatoes
  • 6 fresh basil leaves, shredded
  • 1/2 tsp of salt
  • 1/2 tsp of fresh ground black pepper

Gnudi

  • 1 pound of ricotta
  • 3/4 cups of all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup of fresh grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp of salt
  • 1/2 tsp of fresh ground black pepper


PREPARATION

  • In a frying pan, sauté the onions and garlic for 2 minutes.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes and basil.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Cook on low heat for 30 to 45 minutes
  • Meanwhile, in a medium sized pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil.
  • In a large bowl thoroughly mix together the ricotta, flour, cheese, egg, salt and pepper.
  • Lightly flour a cutting board or the table and flour your hands.
  • Pinch some of the ricotta mixture and roll into roughly into a 1 inch by 1 inch tube. Lightly roll into the flour and set aside.
  • When your finished shaping all the mixture, place a few at a time in the boiling water and cook until they float.
  • Plate and top with the basil tomato sauce and a little cheese or a lot of cheese and a little fresh basil.Serves 2 people as an entree or 4 as an appetizer