16/11/2021
Spicy gnocchi with Italian sausage.
Ingredients & Method:
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For the gnocchi:
2 large floury potatoes, boiled till cooked through.
2 cups of all purpose flour
1 egg
Salt & pepper
M: mash the potatoes, add egg, gradually add flour and season. Combine thoroughly, whilst gradually adding the flour. Continue mixing then kneading until the dough springs to the touch, is smooth and no longer sticks to the board. Roll out the dough onto a floured surface. 1 cm thick. Slice strips 1.5 cm wide. Then slice into 2cmx1cm pieces. Between the palm of your hands, roll into an oblong shaped piece. Then using the back of a fork, run the fork gently to create little indentations.
For the sauce:
1 red onion, finely sliced
1/2 cup smoked pancetta
1 cup of flat leaf parsley
1 cup of fresh basil
2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
4 plump cloves of garlic
1 red chilli
(All herbs, chilli and garlic, finely chopped)
6 small Italian sausages, removed from their casings.
1 red pepper, diced
1 courgette diced
1 chicken stock cube
2 cups of white wine or water
1 stock cube
1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
1/2 tablespoon dried Italian herb mix
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon light olive oil
M: in a heavy pan, sauté the onions with the pancetta. Followed by the sausage until browned. Then add vegetables and 3/4 of the herbs/chilli/garlic mix. Continue sautéing for 5 minutes, add the stock cube and water. Allow to simmer and reduce gently for 15-20 minutes on medium heat.
Meanwhile, bring a heavy saucepan filled with water to boil. Drop the gnocchi and stir to keep them from sticking to one another. Boil until they float to the surface. Strain and transfer to the sauce and allow to continue cooking for a further 5 minutes. Add the remaining herbs, toss well then Serve with freshly grated Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper. Enjoy!