Spinach Gnocchi

Ingredients

• 1 cup ricotta
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 2 tbsp soft unsalted butter
• Sprinkle of salt and pepper
• 12 oz (375 g) fresh spinach
• 3 to 4 tbsp all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Place ricotta in a medium bowl and mash until smooth. Add egg, cheese, butter and salt and pepper, mix and set aside. Cook spinach in a small amount of lightly salted water for 1 minute. Drain and cool. Squeeze small handfuls of spinach until all liquid is removed. Finely chop by hand or in a food processor. Add to ricotta mixture. Mix well. Add 3 tablespoons of flour and mix well. If mixture seems too wet to handle, add 1 more tablespoon of flour. Prepare in the same manner as potato gnocchi. Omit the first part of step 5. Spinach gnocchi is not rolled on the back of a fork. Makes 4 to 5 portions.

Notes

A few tips before you start Starchy potatoes, such as Russets, will produce a fluffy gnocchi. • Cook the potatoes in their skins, then peel afterwards. This produces a “drier” potato and increases the fluffiness of the gnocchi. • To test potatoes for doneness, stab with a thin paring knife. The potato should fall off the knife when pulled up from the water. • Do not poke the potatoes too much as they are cooking or they will become too watery. • Nonna Maria’s secret: Always cook with love and passion!