Serves6 (main course) to 8 (first course)
- Active time:1 1/4 hr
- Start to finish:2 1/4 hr
October 2009
Frying sage leaves is easy and provides a real wow factor. The sage and chestnuts make an ideal foil for these pillowy gnocchi. View more of our favorite recipes from this issue.
-
1 1/4
lb
russet (baking potatoes)
-
1
(3/4-lb) sweet potato
-
1
large egg
-
1/2
teaspoon
grated nutmeg
-
1/3
cup
grated Parmigiano-Reggiano plus more for serving
-
1 1/2 to 2
cups
all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
-
1/3
cup
extra-virgin olive oil
-
1
cup
sage leaves (from 1 bunch)
-
1/3
cup
bottled roasted chestnuts, very thinly sliced with an adjustable-blade slicer or a sharp vegetable peeler
-
2
tablespoons
unsalted butter
Make gnocchi:
-
Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle.
-
Pierce russet and sweet potatoes in several places with a fork, then bake in a 4-sided sheet pan until just tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
-
Cool potatoes slightly, then peel and force through ricer into sheet pan, spreading in an even layer. Cool potatoes completely.
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Lightly flour 2 or 3 large baking sheets or line with parchment paper.
-
Beat together egg, nutmeg, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper in a small bowl.
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Gather potatoes into a mound in sheet pan, using a pastry scraper if you have one, and form a well in center.
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Pour egg mixture into well, then knead into potatoes. Knead in cheese and 11/2 cups flour, then knead, adding more flour as necessary, until mixture forms a smooth but slightly sticky dough. Dust top lightly with some of flour.
-
Cut dough into 6 pieces. Form 1 piece of dough into a 1/2-inch-thick rope on a lightly floured surface. Cut rope into 1/2-inch pieces. Gently roll each piece into a ball and lightly dust with flour.
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Repeat with remaining 5 pieces of dough.
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Turn a fork over and hold at a 45-degree angle, with tips of tines touching work surface. Working with 1 at a time, roll gnocchi down fork tines, pressing with your thumb, to make ridges on 1 side. Transfer gnocchi as formed to baking sheets.
Fry sage leaves and chestnuts:
-
Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Fry sage leaves in 3 batches, stirring, until they turn just a shade lighter and crisp (they will continue to crisp as they cool), about 30 seconds per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Season lightly with salt.
-
Fry chestnuts in 3 batches, stirring, until golden and crisp, about 30 seconds per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Season lightly with salt. Reserve oil in skillet.
Cook gnocchi:
-
Add half of gnocchi to a pasta pot of well-salted boiling water and stir. Cook until they float to surface, about 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to skillet with butter sauce. Cook remaining gnocchi in same manner, transferring to skillet as cooked.
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Heat gnocchi in skillet over medium heat, stirring to coat.
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Serve sprinkled with fried sage and chestnuts and grated cheese.
cooks’ notes: Uncooked gnocchi can be frozen (first in 1 layer on a baking sheet, then transferred to a sealable bag) up to 1 month. Do not thaw before cooking. - Chestnuts can be sliced 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container at cool room temperature.
- Sauce and topping can be halved; make full recipe of gnocchi and freeze half of it.
