Creamy Gnocchi Gratin

Wednesday 13 November 2013

 photo SAM_0886_zps6f74310e.jpg

Gnocchi is one thing I always have in my cupboards.  Oh, I know you can easily make your own, but I am of the opinion that if you have a packet of ready made gnocchi in the cupboard, you are never much more than a half an hour or so from putting a tasty meal onto the table.

  photo SAM_0885_zps001e5239.jpg

It lends itself beautifully to all sorts . . . especially if you treat it a bit like a potato from time to time.   I have done sauteed Gnocchi with Egg (pretty much like egg and chips, only better with the addition of sage and garlic!)  Gnocchi Mac and Cheese with Purple Sprouting Broccoli (beautifully sauced!)

 photo SAM_0882_zpsc51de973.jpg  

Gnocchi Breakfast Scramble (a fabulous morning delight with eggs, cheese, bacon and chives!)  Chicken and Gnocchi Soup (think Chicken and Dumplings!) and then there is my personal favourite . . . Hashed Gnocchi (Corned Beef Hash, except with plump little gnocchi!)

 photo SAM_0902_zps2e10e1ae.jpg

So, you can see how very versatile a package of Gnocchi can be!  If you can do it with a potato (or a pasta for that matter) you can do it with a Gnocchi! I wanted to showcase some special cheeses today (infused with ginger and rosemary) , so I created a creamy gratin and added some chopped broccoli.  It was fabulously delish . . . but then again, you knew it would be!

 photo SAM_0881_zps66feb9dc.jpg


*Creamy Gnocchi Gratin*
Serves 4 to 6 
A delicious gratin, with a lucious chese sauce and broccoli for goodness.  I like to push the boundaries of what gnocchi is generally used for.  To me they are just delightful little dumplings begging to be enhanced in delicious ways!

1 (500g) package of fresh ready-to-boil gnocchi (a generous pound)
1/2 of a  bunch of broccoli, trimmed and chopped
235ml of double cream (1 cup)
1 spring of fresh rosemary
1 1/4 inch thick slice of fresh ginger root
2 TBS butter, divided (room temp)
3 TBS finely grated Parmesan cheese
3 TBS fine dried bread crumbs
4 ounces mild blue cheese
salt and black pepper to taste
pinch freshly grated nutmeg

 photo SAM_0890_zps0a04cb53.jpg

Place the cream into a saucepan.  Add the rosemary and ginger.  Bring to the boil.  Set aside to infused for about half an hour.

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5.  Butter a shallow gratin dish with half of the butter.  Set aside.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to the boil.  Cook the gnocchi according to the package directions, half a dozen or so at a time.  Once they float to the surface, scoop out with a slotted spoon and place into the gratin dish, repeating until all the gnocchi have cooked.  Add the broccoli to the water and cook until it is crispy tender.   Drain well and scatter it amongst the gnocchi.
 
Strain the cream and add a touch of salt and pepper, plus a pinch of nutmeg.  Pour this over top of the gnocchi in the dish.  Crumble the blue cheese over top, scattering it over evenly.   Mix together the remaining 1 TBS butter, bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.  Sprinkle this crumb mixture over top.   Bang the gratin into the oven and bake until the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown.  This will take about half an hour.   Serve hot.

 photo SAM_1760_zps56e95b5a.jpg

As you know,  Divo Italiano recently sent me a delicious assortment of exciting new Italian Cheeses to try out. These are thorougly modern cheeses selected by Aldo Zilli specifically for the British Table.   In this I used their Cubed Gorgonzola P.D.O.Picante.

 photo SAM_1754_zps66bae7e3.jpg

 Gold award winner at the Nantwich International Cheese Awards 2013, a P.D.O. Italian blue cheese without any rind which means nothing goes to waste. Packaged in a convenient pre-cubed format, it is the first to market in this format for Gorgonzola cheese. It is matured for up to 90 days in natural caves in Northern Italy to give it a sharp, spicy (‘piccante’ in Italian) flavour and creamy texture. It makes a delicious match with ripe pears and walnuts tossed into rocket leaves, melted on pizza, or used to make an indulgent cooking sauce. 

This cheese was fabulous and was a great addition to my sauce.   Mmmm . . . I am getting spoilt here!  You can find the DVO range of cheeses in Morrisons and Ocado. 

5 comments

  1. Wow, that looks amazing. What do you think could replace broccoli for someone who just cannot stomach them? I was thinking spinach.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think spinach would be a fabulous substitution bbfit!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm not too adventurous when buying cheeses, cause I'm scared I won't like them.

    I don't think I've ever had Gorgonzola.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgonzola has a lovely flavour Ramona. it's fabulous on roasted parsnips!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So, does Todd like gnocchi? Or is it just egg pasta he has an aversion to?

    This recipe sounds wonderful - chock full of all of the things I love - potato, broccoli, parmesan and gorgonzola. I have a nice chunk of gorgonzola in the fridge that I bought to make stuffed salmon fillets, so I might use the rest for this dish (rather than sampling it on a water cracker while cooking the salmon like I usually do!)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by. I love to hear from you so do not be shy!


BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT OR RATING, ASK YOURSELF:
Did you make the recipe as directed? Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.

Is this comment helpful to other readers? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Remember that this website is run by a real person.

Are you here to complain about ads? Please keep in mind that I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising helps to defray my cost of doing so, and allows me to continue to post regular fresh content.

Thanks so much for your understanding! I appreciate you!