Potato Gnocchi with Pancetta, Sage and Mixed Seeds
By OcadoLife
Published on 01 December 2021
It’s easier than you think to make soft, pillowy potato gnocchi. Using baked potatoes is the secret – it helps get the perfect texture. Here, it's served simply with Italian hard cheese, pancetta and sage, for a real Italian-style meal that will go down a treat with the whole family. If you don’t want to use all the gnocchi at once, freeze them on a baking sheet before cooking and transfer to a tub or ziplock bag.Time and servings
1 hr 25 minsTotal time
4Servings
15 minsPrep time
1 hr 10 minsCooking time
Ingredients
- 1 kg of maris piper potatoes (small to medium in size)
- 200 g of plain flour
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 0.5 tsp of ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp of olive oil
- 154 g of diced pancetta
- 50 g of mixed seeds
- 12 sage leaves
- 1 handful of grana padano, grated
Method
Step 1
Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6 and place all the potatoes in a large roasting tin. You want them to be as close in size as possible, so they cook at the same rate – small potatoes are good because they cook quicker!Step 2
Bake the potatoes in the oven for 45 mins, or until cooked all the way through. Remove from the oven and allow to cool just until you can handle them – but no more as you want them to be hot while doing the next bit. Cut them in half and scoop the potato into a large mixing bowl (save the skins for a snack). You should have about 750g. Mash or put through a ricer.Step 3
Add the flour, egg, nutmeg and some black pepper to the potato and combine. It shouldn’t be sticky – if it is, add a little more flour. Divide into four even amounts and on a lightly floured work surface, roll into long sausages 3-4 cm in diameter.Step 4
Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into 1.5cm pieces. You can leave them as they are or press a pattern into the top with a fork. Transfer to a floured baking sheet as you go.Step 5
Place a sauté pan on a medium heat and add the olive oil, the pancetta and seeds. Cook gently for around 5-10 mins until the pancetta and seeds are turning golden. Add the sage leaves.Step 6
Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the gnocchi in batches and cook for 2-3 mins until they float to the surface, then use a slotted spoon to scoop them out of the water and into the sauté pan. Repeat until all the gnocchi are cooked. Fry until lightly golden and then serve. A grating of grana padano is a lovely optional addition.