This recipe for selfmade potato gnocchi with cheese and leeks is an excellent instance of conventional Alpine delicacies. Usually eaten through the Christmas interval in Friuli Venezia Giulia, we love this creamy tacky potato gnocchi all 12 months spherical! The selfmade gnocchi have cheese within the dough and the sauce is a tacky béchamel with sautéed leeks. So, an absolute must-try for cheese lovers!

What’s potato gnocchi?
Potato gnocchi is a kind of dumpling from Italy often made with boiled potato, flour and eggs. These dumplings are most frequently served boiled after which dressed with a sauce like on this selfmade tacky potato gnocchi recipe or baked like in gnocchi alla Sorrentina!
When individuals outdoors Italy speak about gnocchi, they principally consult with potato gnocchi. Nevertheless, Italian potato gnocchi solely date again to the beginning of the 18th century in contrast to different varieties of dumplings which have existed in Italy for the reason that Renaissance and even a lot earlier.


Find out how to make excellent potato gnocchi.
Most potato gnocchi are mainly boiled and mashed or pressed potatoes mixed with egg, a pinch of salt and a few ‘00’ flour and made right into a dough, which is then minimize and formed by hand. Crucial ingredient for excellent potato gnocchi is the kind of potato used.
However, the way in which the dough is created additionally contributes to the success of your gnocchi. Dough that’s too compact will produce powerful gnocchi which might be heavy and stodgy.


What are the most effective potatoes for gnocchi?
Potatoes that are too watery would require extra flour and the outcome will probably be ‘gummy’ gnocchi! Right here in Italy, we’re fortunate that potatoes in supermarkets and grocers are labelled as being the proper sort for gnocchi! Clearly, that isn’t the case outdoors of Italy.
The very best potatoes are dry and starchy with white flesh, ideally barely aged. I like to make use of Russet potatoes, that are the most well-liked right here in Italy, however you may as well use Desiree potatoes, Yukon Gold, Idaho potatoes and even King Edwards.


In conclusion, the proper fluffy gnocchi are made with starchy and aged potatoes. The upper the water content material of your potato, the extra flour you’ll have to add when making your selfmade potato gnocchi. Including an excessive amount of flour will make the gnocchi exhausting and rubbery and also you that is not what you need.
Components for this tacky selfmade gnocchi recipe.
The gnocchi.
Potatoes: As talked about above these should be starchy and barely aged.
Eggs: This recipe calls for two egg yolks. Utilizing solely egg yolk provides the gnocchi a richer taste and shade. I like to make use of free-range bio eggs as a result of they style higher, are extra nutritious and more healthy.
The flour: As with most Italian potato gnocchi recipes, this model requires Italian ‘00’ delicate wheat flour. It’s also possible to use all-purpose flour.


The cheese: Not like regular potato gnocchi recipes, this gnocchi from Friuli Venezia Giulia requires grated cheese to be added to the gnocchi dough. The normal cheese on this recipe is Montasio.
It is a mountain cheese made out of cow’s milk in each Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. You should buy it in 4 variations, contemporary, semi-mature, mature and aged (Italians say ‘stagionata’ for aged or mature cheese).
Recent Montasio is sort of delicate, however the flavour intensifies with age. Montasio is the star of one other dish from Friuli which has the same taste profile to this selfmade potato gnocchi recipe. Frico is a scrumptious sort of potato pancake which requires potatoes, onions and Montasio.
If you cannot discover Montasio cheese, good substitutes embody different semi-hard Alpine good melting cheeses like Emmenthal, Fontina, Gruyere, or Asiago.


Components for the sauce.
The sauce for these potato and cheese gnocchi is mainly a tacky béchamel mixed with sautéed leeks.
To make this you will want flour, butter, milk, contemporary leeks and extra Montasio (or whichever cheese you might be utilizing).
Find out how to make these selfmade potato gnocchi.
Step-by-step directions.
1) Prepare dinner the unpeeled entire potatoes in loads of salted boiling water. Then both peel them and mash them gently with a potato masher or press them by way of a potato ricer into a big bowl.
With the latter, you don’t have to peel the potatoes first. The peel tends to remain within the ricer, though it’s finest to take away the peel after ricing every potato.I discover utilizing a ricer is one of the best ways.
Prepare dinner’s tip. To make excellent gnocchi, the potato must be nonetheless fairly sizzling when pressed or mashed. You additionally don’t need the ‘mash’ to be too compact, maintain it fluffy.


2) Add the ready grated cheese, egg yolks, salt, and flour to the potato.


3) Combine every part properly collectively after which flip the gnocchi combination out on to a well-floured floor.


4) Knead gently to type a pliable dough. Roll the potato gnocchi dough right into a ball, as you’d for selfmade pasta.


5) Subsequent, minimize off a chunk of dough and roll it into an extended rope about ¾ inch (2cm) thick after which minimize the rope into ¾ inch (2 cm) equal items. These gnocchis aren’t historically ridged, however you are able to do so by rolling them over an gnocchi board or the again of a fork. Repeat with the remainder of the dough.


6) Place the prepared gnocchi on a flour dusted floor whilst you make the remainder and the sauce.
Find out how to make the sauce.
Step-by-step directions.


1) Wash and clear the leeks and minimize them into slim slices. Then sauté in butter till delicate and really barely browned. Put aside.


2) To make the béchamel, soften the butter in a heavy saucepan, add the flour and blend along with a wood spoon till you might have a clean paste (roux).


3) For finest outcomes, add within the milk just a little at a time stirring repeatedly till the sauce is clean and has the consistency of a custard.
4) Lastly add the grated cheese, combine till it melts after which put within the sautéed leeks.
End the dish.


Switch the cheese sauce to a skillet that’s massive sufficient to carry the gnocchi too. If the sauce has thickened an excessive amount of, add just a little water or milk and warmth by way of over a low warmth.


Put a big pot of water on to boil for the gnocchi, add salt as soon as it begins to boil and convey to a boil once more. Prepare dinner the gnocchi within the boiling salted water till they rise to the floor. Then take away them with a slotted spoon and add them to the sauce.


Combine the gnocchi and cheese and leek sauce collectively for a minute to permit the gnocchi to soak up the flavors of the sauce. Add salt and floor black pepper to style, then plate instantly. I added some chopped chives for further oniony flavour and shade. However the chives will not be within the authentic recipe and are optionally available.
FAQs
Like many Italian cheeses, most varieties of Alpine mountain cheese, like Montasio, is made with animal rennet. So, not appropriate for vegetarians. Use a vegetarian cheese as an alternative.
What to do with leftovers.
When you have any leftover selfmade potato gnocchi with sauce, you may maintain it sealed within the fridge for a few days. Reheat within the microwave or in a pan over a low warmth with some extra milk.
When you have leftover raw gnocchi you may freeze them for later. Unfold your selfmade potato gnocchi in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour. Switch to a freezer bag or hermetic container and freeze for as much as 3 months. No have to thaw earlier than cooking—you may cook dinner frozen gnocchi in the identical approach as contemporary!
Pin for later.


Serve together with your favourite sauce.
These tacky selfmade potato gnocchi are additionally scrumptious served in several methods.
Serve them with a basil pesto sauce, a tomato sauce, or a meat sauce. Alternatively use them in comparable tacky gnocchi recipes from the Italian mountains akin to gnocchi alla Bava from The Aosta Valley or gnocchi della Val Varaita from Piemonte.
Let me know what you assume.
The flavors on this potato gnocchi recipe are typical of Alpine delicacies. Potatoes and cheese are mixed in plenty of dishes discovered all through the Alps akin to raclette (fashionable in Switzerland, France, Austria and Germany) and French tartiflette and aligot.
We love all of the abovementioned dishes however this potato gnocchi has the added sweetness of the leeks which makes it even higher and creates such a wonderful steadiness of flavors. I’m positive for those who give this recipe a strive, you’ll agree with me!
In the event you do do that tacky selfmade potato gnocchi recipe, I’d love to listen to what you assume. Please write a remark right here on the weblog or submit a touch upon the Pasta Challenge Fb web page.
Your suggestions means lots to me!
Buon Appetito!
Different varieties of Italian gnocchi it’s best to strive!
- Gnocchi alla Romana with semolina.
- Spinach and ricotta gnocchi from Piemonte
- Canederli bread dumplings from the South Tirol
- Teardrop dumplings from the Aosta Valley.
- Tuscan gnudi dumplings
- Bread gnocchi with sausage and beans from Umbria.
Extra Recipes from Friuli Venezia Giulia
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