Light and Tender Potato Gnocchi With Sage-Butter Sauce Recipe

Daniel Gritzer

Yield:Serves 4 as a main course or 6 as a mid-course or appetizer
Active time:1 hour
Total time:1 hour 45 minutes
Rated: 5.0

This recipe appears in:

How to Make Light and Tender Potato Gnocchi

Light and tender gnocchi require a light and tender touch. [Photographs: Vicky Wasik]

We're not going to lie: Potato gnocchi can be a little tricky and require some practice to get right. But if you know a few basic rules, it's really not that hard to make ones that are light and tender, not leaden and gummy. This recipe walks you through those steps, starting with choosing a gnocchi-friendly potato and cooking it the right way; then we leave it up to you whether to add egg yolk or not (yolks make a dough that's easier to work with, but also firmer); and finally we add just enough flour to make a cohesive dough while being careful not to overwork it to the point of gumminess. The result are lovely little gnocchi in a sage-butter sauce that will prove that good gnocchi aren't out of reach.

Why this recipe works:

Baking the potatoes makes them drier than boiling; this in turn requires less flour and produces a lighter result.
Sifting the flour over the riced potatoes gives the most even coverage that is easier to work in evenly.
Making the egg yolk optional allows you to choose between a slightly easier yet firmer dough (with egg yolk) or a slightly more challenging yet lighter dough (without egg yolk).
Cutting with a bench scraper

Note: Egg yolks make a slightly firmer dough that is easier to work with and less likely to fall apart when cooked, but it also covers up the potato's flavor slightly and produces gnocchi that are a little more dense. If you're new to making gnocchi, we recommend starting with egg yolk; if you are more practiced, try omitting the egg yolk for lighter and more potatoey (yet also slightly more challenging to make) gnocchi. In our tests, we've found that flour amounts are roughly the same whether using egg yolks or not.

Ingredients

3 pounds russet potatoes, scrubbed and pierced all over with a fork
3 egg yolks, lightly beaten (optional, see note above)
3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting and as needed, divided
1 stick unsalted butter
Leaves from 1 large sprig fresh sage (about 15 large and small leaves)
Kosher salt
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for grating

Directions

1.

Preheat oven to 450°F. Set potatoes either on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, a baking sheet lined with a layer of salt, or directly on the oven's racks and cook until completely tender throughout when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes.
2.

Transfer potatoes to a work surface. Using tongs to hold the hot potatoes, slice each in half lengthwise.
3.

Using a spoon, scoop potato flesh into a ricer or food mill set with the finest disk. Press potato flesh onto a clean work surface, spreading it into an even layer, and allow steam to escape for a few minutes.
4.

Drizzle egg yolks all over, if using.
5.

Scoop 1/2 cup of flour into a fine mesh sieve and tap to dust flour all over potatoes.
6.

Using a pastry blender or bench scraper, chop down repeatedly all over to cut flour and egg into potato.
7.

Using bench scraper, gather up shaggy potato mass and pat into a loose ball. Press ball flat with hands, then fold in half using bench scraper and press down again.
8.

Scoop remaining 1/4 cup flour into sieve and dust all over potato dough. Continue to gently fold and press, just until a uniform dough comes together (make sure to simply fold and press down: avoid the smearing motion more commonly used when kneading bread).
9.

Dust potato dough all over with flour and gently form into a log.
10.

Clean work area well and dust with fresh flour. Using the bench scraper, slice off a roughly 2 inch thick portion of dough at a time and roll into snake about 1/2 inch thick; use a light touch as you roll, trying to use your palms more than your fingers, and dusting as necessary with flour to prevent sticking.
11.

Using the bench scraper, cut snake into 1-inch portions, trimming off uneven ends as necessary. Transfer gnocchi to a well-floured area or baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough.
12.

Bring a large pot of very well salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it foams. Add sage and fry until very aromatic and butter begins to lightly brown; remove from heat.
13.

Using a bench scraper or slotted spatula to scoop them up, transfer gnocchi to boiling water. Stir once very gently with a spider or slotted spoon to prevent sticking. When the gnocchi begin to float to the surface, wait about 20 seconds, then taste 1; it should be soft yet cooked through, without any raw-flour flavor.
14.

Using spider or slotted spoon, scoop gnocchi directly into skillet with sage butter, allowing some of the water clinging to them to come along. Cook gnocchi in sage butter over medium-high heat, tossing very gently and adding a splash of cooking water as needed if the sauce becomes greasy or breaks, until gnocchi are coated in a rich, creamy sauce, about 1 minute.
15.

Carefully spoon gnocchi into serving dishes and top with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve right away.