Gnocchetti w/ Fresh Cherry Tomato and Black Olive Sauce [ Gnocchetti con Pomodorini e Olive Taggiasche ]
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 5
 
Ingredients
  • 2.2 lb (1 kg) mealy potatoes* of similar size, scrubbed
  • 1¼ cup (160 g) of "00" Italian flour (+ more for dusting and kneading)
  • 2 oz (55 g) Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
  • 1 egg
  • a bit of nutmeg, grated
  • salt
  • -
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • extra-virgin olive oil
  • 30 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ cup (or more, if you like) of black olives in oil, drained
  • a couple of basil leaves (+ more for garnish)
  • Parmigiano Reggiano to shave on top
Instructions
  1. Place unpeeled potatoes in a pot of cold water. Place pot over stove and cook potatoes until you can easily poke them through with a fork.
  2. While potatoes are cooking, sauté the garlic with the tomatoes and the black olives in extra-virgin olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Add salt and basil. Set aside.
  3. Drain potatoes and remove peel with a knife while they're hot, being careful not to burn your fingers. With a potato ricer, mash potatoes on a clean surface. Form a well in the center of mashed potatoes and break an egg in it. Add cheese, nutmeg and two pinches of salt (or more if needed). Combine all ingredients and gradually add flour - just as much as the dough takes. Depending on the type of potatoes you're using, you'll need more or less flour. The secret to soft gnocchi is to hold back on flour and stop kneading as soon as you get a workable dough. Once you obtain it, divide it in pieces with a dough cutter (see photo).
  4. Lightly dust the working surface with flour and roll each piece into ½-inch logs. Using the dough cutter, cut each log into small pieces.You can boil a small batch to test the consistency and adjust the amount of flour, if needed.
  5. Toss gnocchi in boiling water. Once they come to the surface (it'll take about 2 minutes), transfer them with a slotted spoon into a pan containing the sauce and turn on heat.
  6. Sauté gnocchi for just a minute, delicately stirring them so that they absorb the sauce. Transfer to plate and shave fresh Parmigiano Reggiano on top. Garnish with basil leaves and serve right away.
Notes
*I used red mealy potatoes for this recipe. Russet potatoes work too.
Recipe by Very EATalian at https://www.veryeatalian.com/potato-harvest-gnocchetti-with-fresh-cherry-tomatoes-and-black-olives-sauce/