Northern Italian Pumpkin Gnocchi With Sage Butter Food

HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Cut the pumpkin into thin slices then place them on a baking sheet pan covered with baking paper. Cook in a static oven preheated to 200°C (390F) for 15-20 minutes.
• Place the flour on a work surface and, using your hands or a spoon, create the classic fountain shape. Crush the pumpkin with a potato ricer directly on the flour. Then in a little bowl, beat the egg up. Incorporate the egg to the dough with a fork and work it until it's homogeneous. Adjust with salt and pepper and flavor with a pinch of nutmeg.
• Work the dough as little as possible and quickly. Give it the shape of a loaf. Cut a piece of dough then with your hands make a long roll of dough as thick as a finger. Slice the roll every 1,5/2 cm (about half inch), so as to have small cylinders. Now slide the gnocchi one by one on a gnocchi board to give them the classic striped pattern on the surface

PUMPKIN GNOCCHI WITH SAGE BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Bake the potato - see notes - and pull off the skin. Let the potato rest for a while to cool down. Once it's cool enough to handle, grate it until you have about 1 1/2 cups of very fine potato shreds.
• Mix potato shreds with pumpkin puree. Measure flour onto a clean surface and put the potato/pumpkin mixture in the center. Make a well and crack your egg into it. Sprinkle salt on top. Grab a fork and whisk up the egg real quick. Using your hands, mix all ingredients into a dough. Don't overmix. When it starts to come together, form the dough into a mostly-smooth, rounded little loaf.
• Cut off slices of the mound and roll each one into a long rope. Cut the rope into bite sized pieces. Place the gnocchi pieces on a plate (make sure they've got a little flour coating so they don't stick).
• Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the gnocchi, carefully, one at a time, to the water. You may need to work in batches. When the gnocchi rise to the top of the pot of boiling water, immediately remove them with a slotted spoon. Set aside. Melt your butter in a large nonstick skillet. Pan fry the gnocchi, undisturbed, to get one side lightly crispy and leave the other side soft. Remove from pan and set aside to wait for saaaauce.
• In the same pan, add butter, sage leaves, and garlic clove. Let the garlic and sage cook for a few minutes over low heat. When the sage leaves are starting to get crispy, remove from heat. Remove garlic as well. When it's melted, add the flour and whisk. Add the heavy cream and whisk. Add the starchy water slowly, whisking to make a sauce that is the consistency you want. Toss with gnocchi, top with sage leaves and Parmesan, and BE HAPPY AND PROUD BECAUSE LOOK WHAT YOU MADE! Now pour yourself a glass of wine and feast.

EASY PUMPKIN GNOCCHI WITH SAGE BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Line a colander with 4 sheets of paper towel. Spread the fresh mashed pumpkin or canned puree onto the paper towel (see photo in post) then leave for 5 minutes.
• Measure out 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree (scale up if you scaled recipe, Note 6).
• Place pumpkin and remaining Gnocchi ingredients in a bowl. Use a wooden spoon to mix well - it should be a soft dough. (Note 4)
• Dust a work surface with flour, tip dough out, sprinkle with flour then pat into log shape.
• Cut into 6 pieces. Roll into 1.7cm / 2/3" ropes, then cut into squares (Note 5).
• Optional: Use a fork to press down lightly on the cut side of the gnocchi.

PUMPKIN GNOCCHI IN SAGE BUTTER

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in pumpkin until blended. On a lightly floured surface, knead 10-12 times, forming a soft dough. Let rest for 10 minutes., Divide dough into four portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 1/2-in.-thick rope; cut into 3/4-in. pieces. Press and roll each piece with a lightly floured fork., In a Dutch oven, bring water to a boil. Cook gnocchi in batches for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes or until they float. Remove with a slotted spoon; keep warm., In a large heavy saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the sage, garlic and gnocchi; stir to coat.

NORTHERN ITALIAN PUMPKIN GNOCCHI WITH SAGE BUTTER

Steps:

• Cut pumpkin in wedges and let roast until tender in the oven at 200°C (45min.).
• Transfer cooled, mashed pumpkin to a bowl, add potatoes, flour, salt, pepper, 50g parmesan and the two eggs until a firm dough forms (amount of flour can vary according to egg size).
• Form dough to long rolls and cut into pieces (about 1,5 cm).
• Bring salted water to a boil and cook gnocchi until they rise to the surface.
• Melt butter in a pan and add sage. Let sage fry a bit.
• Garnish the gnocchi with sage butter and sprinkle with parmesan (or smoked ricotta).

PUMPKIN GNOCCHI WITH CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS/PORCINI

Steps:

• Clean pumpkin, discard seeds and chop.
• Meanwhile preheat oven to 200°C.
• Butter a pan/casserole dish, add pumpkin chunks and let bake for about 50-60 minute (you could also roast them in a pan, for about 15 minute until soft, tastes a bit different, but saves quite some time).
• Cook potatoes until soft (for about 20 min).
• Take pumpkin chunks out of the oven and let cool.
• Rinse cooked potatoes under cold water and peel.
• Put pumpkin chunks through a (potatoe) ricer into a bowl.
• Do the same with the potatoes (cut in chunks first).
• Add flour, nutmeg, parmesan, salt and pepper, about 20g of butter and the egg.
• Knead to a medium to firm dough (add flour if necessary).
• Form small rolls out of Gnocchi dough and cut in about half inch size pieces (use some flour in case the dough tends to stick to your working place's surface. If you like your Gnocchi to soak up the sauce better, make slight indentations with fork rakes -- does look pretty as well).
• Heat water in a large pot.
• Meanwhiles melt the rest of the butter in a pan.
• Add chopped shallots and garlic. Fry until soft and fragrant.
• Add chopped chanterelles (or porcini or any other mushroom you like to use).
• Let fry until they loose water and turn soft.
• Let mushroom fry dry a bit and then add the white wine and cream. Let cook until sauce thickens and gets a very creamy texture.
• Meanwhile add Pumpkin Gnocchi to boiling water and let simmer until they come to the surface. (about 2-3 minutes).
• Strain gnocchi (or use a slotted spoon) and add to mushroom sauce.
• Toss carefully and add chopped parsley or sage.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Transfer to deep dish plates and garnish with parmesan (shaves).

PUMPKIN GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Mix pumpkin puree with egg yolk. Season to taste with salt and nutmeg. Quickly stir in flour with a fork; it will still be fairly sticky. The more flour you add, the denser the finished product will be.
• Flour your board generously, and dust a parchment-lined baking sheet generously with flour too. Take a lump of dough the size of a large walnut, roll into a finger-wide log, and quickly cut into gnocchi about 1" long. Dip the knife blade in flour to minimize sticking. Transfer to prepared baking sheet while making the rest.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt. Turn heat down so water bubbles gently. Add gnocchi. Stir once so they don't stick to the bottom, then cook until they float, 4-6 minutes depending on size. Remove from water with a skimmer; dumping them through a colander might damage them,.
• Stack and shred sage leaves into fine chiffonade. Melt butter over medium heat, add sage, and saute until the sage crisps and the butter turns brown and smells nutty (don't let it burn!). Spoon over gnocchi, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and ground black pepper.
• Optional: start with a small whole sugar pumpkin, 1½-2 lbs. Clean out seeds and fibers. Slice into 1/4" thick slices and roast in one layer on a baking sheet in a preheated 400°F oven for 30 minutes or until soft. Press through a potato ricer or food mill. Let cool 15 minutes before proceeding.

PUMPKIN GNOCCHI WITH HAZELNUT SAGE BUTTER

Steps:

• If you're using homemade puree, put it in a strainer and let it drain for at least 30 minutes. Then warm the puree in a pan to evaporate any excess moisture.
• Combine puree, egg, salt, pepper, nutmeg and enough flour to form a dough that holds together. Knead a few times, adding more flour if needed to make a non-sticky dough.
• Form dough into a long roll (or two) about 1 inch across. (At this point, you can dust it with flour and wrap in plastic wrap to refrigerate for later.).
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut off about 1/2-inch segments of dough. (We don't bother to shape them.) Boil about 8 to 12 gnocchi at a time. They're ready when they float to the top. Remove to a bowl.
• Heat the butter in a saute pan. Add the sage leaves and hazel nuts. Toss lightly with the gnocchi. Top with Parmesan and mix gently.

PUMPKIN GNOCCHI WITH LEEK AND BASIL BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°C Line baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Place washed potatoes and deseeded and quartered squash on the tray and bake for 1 hour or until tender. Let cool for 20 minutes.
• Peel potatoes and pumpkin and place in large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste then mash until smooth.
• Stir flour into potato mixture then turn onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Divide dough into 4 portions and roll each into a 2cm (1 inch) log. Use a lightly floured knife and cut each log into 2cm long pieces. Place pieces onto a baking paper lined tray.
• Roll each piece of dough into a ball and then roll each ball over the back of a lightly floured fork to create a slightly oval shaped ball with shallow grooves and place back on the tray.
• Leek and Basil Butter.
• heat oil over medium high heat in a frying pan. Cut the pale part of the leek into thin matchsticks and add to the oil. Cook 1 - 2 minutes. Transfer leeks to a papertowel lined plate using a slotted spoon.
• Add basil and chilli to the pan and cook for 1 - 2 minutes (until just crisp) then transfer to the plate. Add butter to the pan and heat until melted. Cover pan to keep butter warm.
• Cook the gnocchi in 3 or 4 batches in a large saucepan of boiling water until it rises to the surface. Drain well and serve onto plates. Drizzle each plate with melted butter and top with leek/basil/chilli.