Pan-Fried Gnocchi with Radicchio, Leeks and Ricotta Salata – Vegetarian Recipe

Pan-Fried Gnocchi with Radicchio, Leeks and Ricotta Salata

When I worked at Cafe Flora, we had gnocchi on the menu for a few months, so I had the opportunity to make, oh, a thousand of them by hand most days. Knocking out a few servings for my family seems like a walk in the park by comparison – and it really is easy once you get the hang of the few simple tips I’ll share with you.

Gnocchi are fantastic when simply boiled, buttered and bathed in a basic tomato sauce. Pan-frying the boiled gnocchi is another favorite method; it adds a layer of crispy textural contrast to the creamy interior, and some delicious toasty flavor notes as well. Here I’ve paired the crispy gnocchi with melted leeks, slightly bitter radicchio, and ricotta salata (made from regular ricotta that has been pressed and salted.)

Not everyone adds egg to their gnocchi dough. Personally, I find that a small amount of egg adds a little insurance against the dumplings falling apart, and a pleasing flavor as well.

You’ll see that I call for baking the potatoes on a layer of Kosher salt. That serves two purposes. It allows heat and air to circulate under the potato, and it will also dry up any moisture that seeps out. Moist potatoes are the enemy of gnocchi, so I also cut them in half while they are cooling to let more steam escape. A potato ricer is the ideal tool for mashing the cooled potatoes, as it takes them apart into a fluffy pile without breaking up the starch granules into a sticky mass. Other options are a food mill or a box grater.

Getting the right amount of flour in the dough is the critical factor in making gnocchi that neither fall apart nor have a leaden texture. The dough should stick together but not be sticky, if you know what I mean. Until you get the hang of it, just keep a pot of water boiling and boil a test gnocchi or two until they are coming out just right. They only take a couple of minutes to boil, so this is easy to do.

The traditional tool for shaping the grooves in gnocchi is a fork, but I really love this cheapo little gnocchi board. It is faster and produces neater, deeper grooves than I can make with a fork.

Pan-Fried Gnocchi with Radicchio, Leeks and Ricotta Salata
Vegetarian / Serves 6

• 2 pounds Russet potatoes
• Kosher salt
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• Fresh ground nutmeg
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 leeks, white and light green parts only, cut into 1/4″ rings and thoroughly rinsed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small head radicchio cut into 1/2″ ribbons
• 1 big pinch chili flakes
• 6 ounces ricotta salata, thinly sliced

1. Preheat the oven to 450.  Put a thin layer of Kosher salt on a baking sheet. Poke a few holes in the potatoes and set them on the salt. Bake until very thoroughly tender, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven, cut in half lengthwise, and allow to cool to near room temperature.
2. Remove the skins from the potatoes and force them through a potato ricer or food mill into a large bowl. Add the flour, eggs, milk, 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt, and several generous grinds of nutmeg. Use a spoon and then your hands to bring together into a soft but not sticky dough. Add a bit more water or flour as needed to find the right texture (see headnote). Cover.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Lightly flour your board and a baking sheet. Grab a fistful of dough and roll out into a 1/2″ thick rope. Using a knife or board scraper, cut into 1/2″ gnocchi. Roll each gnocchi over a gnocchi board or the tines of a knife. Press in with your thumb to create an indentation as you roll to create the grooves on the opposite side. If things are sticking a lot, you need to add more flour. Transfer the gnocchi to the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough.
4. Working in several batches, depending on your pot size, boil the gnocchi until they float to the top and then another 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl and toss with some olive oil to prevent sticking. If you won’t be finishing the dish right away, then once all the gnocchi are boiled, oiled, and cooled a bit, transfer them to a baking sheet and refrigerate.
5. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and when it is hot, add the leeks and a big pinch of salt. Cook until tender and lightly browned. Remove to a bowl and leave skillet on.
6. Add a little more oil to the skillet. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds, not allowing it to burn. Add the radicchio, a big pinch of salt, and the chili flakes. Cook until wilted and transfer to the bowl with the leeks.
7. Add a little more oil to the skillet. Add the gnocchi and saute, turning occasionally until browned on most sides and nicely crispy.
8. Return the leeks and radicchio to the pan and toss to combine and reheat. Taste and add a little more salt if needed, but be careful because the ricotta salata is quite salty.
9. Divide among the serving plates, garnish with the ricotta salata, and serve immediately.