Talk to me about Gnocchi

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

I am OBSESSED with Gnocchi. It is my absolute favourite food. Began obsession when served it in Rome in a simple tomato sauce - couldn't have been more simple. The best thing I have ever eaten. Obviously that was fresh Gnocchi.

So I have three questions...
1/ Have you come across any good fresh or dried Gnocchi at any of the major supermarkets?
2/ What can you have with Gnocchi that isn't tomato sauce/ chopped tomatoes or Pesto?
3/ Any general Gnocchi tips?!

Anyone else out there as obsessed as me?

[NotTreadingGrapes]

Bolognaise sauce, baked in oven with sauce and mozzarella on top,
Nigella fries them instead of chips (MN equally divided on that one, 50% say is delish, 50% say is like eating wood chippings)

Anything you can serve with pasta, you can serve with gnocchi basically.

As it's only tatties and flour, all brands are more or less equal. Have never seen it dried tbh, don't see how it couldn't be "fresh".

[starfishmummy]

You an get gnocchi in sainsburys either fresh in the chiller or long life vacuum packs in the pasta aisle. its not that unusual so I imagine most big supermarkets will have it. Whether it is as good as Italian I can't say as I have never been there.


Its nice with a bolognaise sauce too.

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

oh no sorry - dried wasn't the right word. I meant they do it in a sort of vacuum pack that you can keep for a year - I get this at Tescos. Or they do it fresh in that you have to eat it in a few days and it is 'wetter' - from Waitrose.

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

Never thought of baking it! Will try that. Can't imagine it fried!

[NotTreadingGrapes]

Oh right, I see.

I tend to buy Giovanni Rana.

Was just remembering doing it with a blue cheese and cream sort of sauce as well.

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/rapid_roastini_(quick_62923 ah yes I see!

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/rapid_roastini_(quick_62923

[justasecond]

Thats weird, I just came on here for ideas on what to do with gnocci!
I bought some in sainsbury's at weekend as it was on offer in chiller section. I didn't think it would go with tomato based sauce but might give that a go. Thanks for the tips!

[fuzzpig]

Love gnocchi! Yum.

I always get it fresh though - it's a bit annoying as you can't just keep it in the cupboard, but it is miles better than dried.

I just use it instead of pasta, basically anything you can do with pasta you can do with gnocchi instead, although you can't beat a good tomato sauce IMO :)

[fuzzpig]

Oh and I get it fresh from tesco/asda etc. Just own brand I think.

[dozily]

I love this recipe which sounds just like the baked gnocchi mentioned earlier.

Goes down well with the dc too, who even eat the spinach

I always buy the vacuum packed stuff which lasts for a while so is quite handy.

[Weegiemum]

I make my own. Mash made with olive oil then add plain flour until it can be rolled into shape (usually a bit bigger than the ones you buy). Boil till they float, then cover in fresh tomato sauce, with onions, mushrooms, bacon and green pepper, top with mozzarella and bake. Yum!

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

4 cheeses sauce. I once was served gnocchi with peanut sauce in a restaurant. Yum yum.

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

Peanut sauce?!?!?? Oh my!! (drools)

[blackteaplease]

Gnocchi bake. 1 pack gnocchi cooked, 2 steamed leeks, a handful of chopped naice ham. Mix together and place in dish. Then mix parmesan,bread crumbs and thyme together and sprinkle over the top. Bake for 20 mins or so. Lush.

Another favourite is cubes of roasted butternut squash, roasted garlic and roasted tomatoes, cubes of feta, steamed spinach and gnocchi all mixed together.

[blackteaplease]

Oops! Gnocchi bake should have 300g cheese sauce stirred in with leeks and ham

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

I am drooling !!

[chocolateshoes]

i cook gnocchi, add smoked salmon, chopped sundried tomatoes, chopped black olives, creme fraiche, par-boiled green beans or broad beans or asparagus. Mix it all up, cheddar on the top & bake in the oven for 15 mins or so. Yum!

[NotTreadingGrapes]

Peanut sauce!

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

It was Italian though. Pescatori in Dover Street, London.

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

If peanut sauce is wrong then i dont wanna be right!

[Lulabellarama]

Sauces I have with mine:

1. Jools' Pregnant pasta sauce (Jamie Oliver recipe, majorly addictive)
   
2. Puttanesca sauce
   
3. A sauce I make with chopped cooked sausages in a smoked paprika-y, tomatoey sauce
   
4. Smoked salmon with creme fraiche and an egg yolk
   
5. Blue cheese with cream and spinach

[NorbertDentressangle]

My only tip is I wouldn't bother making it yourself from scratch unless you really want to give your kitchen a deep clean as the potato, flour and starchy bits get everywhere.

DP made it once and its a memory I'd rather forget!

[snoworneahva]

I make my own - the difference is huge - homemade are soft and light. As a compromise I'll fry some home made potato bread and use that instead - I had something similar in a lovely Italian restaurant, so I don't feel I've bastardised it too much. My favourite sauce is a spicy chorizo and chestnut sauce topped with buttered sage from River Cafe Green - it's the ultimate in big hug food.

[iamnowawhaticallmother]

that sounds unbelievable - mmmm.....