A challenge is good. It takes you out of you comfort zone.

I keep trying new things. Which, if I recall my original goal for this blog, is the reason I started it. At the same time, I have to remember that just because things are commonly made in my kitchen, doesn't mean they are "boring" to my reader. So I decided to try to make some that I never dreamed I would make (mainly because Trader Joe's has some excellent versions of pasta).

With out further ado, here is my attempt at Gnocchi from "Justataste"

Sweet Potato Gnocchi  

Ingredients:

For the gnocchi:
2 (1-pound) red-skinned sweet potatoes
1 (12-oz.) container fresh ricotta, strained in a sieve for 2 hours <I used cottage cheese actually!>
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 cups (or more) all-purpose flour

For the brown butter:
8 Tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup loosely packed sage leaves
3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Parmesan cheese, for serving

Directions:

Make the gnocchi:
Scrub and dry the sweet potatoes, then prick them all over with a fork. Place the sweet potatoes on a plate and microwave them on "high" until they're fork-tender, about 5 minutes per side. Remove the sweet potatoes from the microwave, cut them in half, and then scoop the flesh into a medium bowl.  <I ended up baking mine in a 400 degree oven for 45 minutes, because I like that more than microwaving them...and I'm crazy.>
Using a fork, thoroughly mash the sweet potatoes, or alternately, pass the sweet potato flesh through a ricer.

Transfer 3 cups of the mashed sweet potatoes to a large bowl. Add the strained ricotta, stirring until thoroughly combined. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and salt, and then start adding the flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms. (See Kelly's Notes.) Shape the dough into a large ball.

Lightly flour a baking sheet and set it aside. Lightly flour your work surface and divide the dough into six equal portions. Take one portion and roll it on your work surface or between your hands until it's about 20 inches in length. Cut the dough into 20 pieces to form each gnocchi then transfer them to the floured baking sheet. Repeat the rolling and cutting process with the remaining five pieces of dough.

Using the back of a fork, press each gnocchi into the tines to form indentations.

Prior to cooking the gnocchi, make the brown butter sauce (recipe follows).

To cook gnocchi:
When you're ready to cook the gnocchi, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add a portion of the gnocchi to the boiling water, stir, and then let the gnocchi cook until they float back up to the top, about 1 minute.

Remove the gnocchi with a slotted spoon to a serving bowl. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining gnocchi.

Toss the warm gnocchi with the prepared brown butter sauce. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve.

Make the brown butter:
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook the butter until the foam subsides and it begins to turn a golden brown color, about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the sage leaves, allowing them to cook for 1 minute.

Remove the brown butter from the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Serve immediately with the sweet potato gnocchi.

Kelly's Notes:
Sweet potatoes will vary in how much moisture they contain, but it's important to not add too much flour or your gnocchi will be dense. The goal is to add the least amount of flour while still making a cohesive, pliable dough. You should end up using roughly 2 cups of flour to reach this point.

Look at the yum! (AKA BROWN BUTTER)

Cutting the pieces of goodness...

I think that next time I make this, I will cut the pieces half the side, simple because I like my unstuffed pasta a bit on the more manageable size. Granted, I am smaller that the average adult, so it is possible that, as Husband said, that this is not a universal truth.


This turned out amazeballs. Like SO good. I love browned butter and it crisped the sage leaves so nicely and made a lovely sauce to coat the gnocchi. Plus, you can never go wrong with a bit of balsamic in the mix in my opinion. The gnocchi itself definitely needs to be made with ricotta (verses cottage cheese) to amp up the flavorfulness. Withou tthe sauce, this dish would be considered only good and not spectacularness I am rating it at right now.

Until the next miracle via food....(yeah, I said it)...