Parisian Gnocchi Recipes

Steps:

• Place oil and diced bacon in a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan. Place pan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is crispy. Set aside.
• Bring 4 quarts water to a simmer in a stockpot and line a sheet tray with parchment paper.
• Combine salt, 1 1/2 cups water and 12 tablespoons butter in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir constantly, making sure to not let the mixture stick to the bottom of the pan. Stir until a dough ball forms. Transfer dough to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With the motor running on low, add Gruyere, Dijon mustard and tarragon and mix until well incorporated. With motor still running, add eggs one at a time, making sure each egg is incorporated before adding another. Transfer dough to a medium pastry bag fitted with a large metal tip.
• Slowly pipe dough into boiling water, using a paring knife to slice off into 3/4-inch pieces. (Work in batches.) When gnocchi float, transfer to lined sheet tray and chill until cold.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a saute pan until hot and bubbly. Add gnocchi to pan and saute until browned. Add cooked, cubed bacon and stir.

Steps:

• 1. To make the pâte à choux, heat the water, butter, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a saucepan over medium heat just until the butter is melted. Dump in all the flour at once and stir the mixture briskly for about 2 minutes, until the dough forms a smooth ball. Remove from the heat and scrape the dough into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. (If you don't have a stand mixer, simply leave it in the bowl.) Let the dough sit for 3 minutes, stirring it every so often to release some of the heat.
• 2. With the mixer on medium-high speed, add the eggs one at a time, making sure each one is fully incorporated before adding the next. Add the dry mustard and beat until the dough is completely smooth. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and set aside.
• 3. To make the mornay sauce, melt the butter in the saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, letting the mixture bubble, stirring constantly for 2 minutes, until the paste is thickened. (Don't let it brown.) Gradually whisk in the milk, beginning slowly and stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
• 4. Decrease the heat to low and cook the mornay for 6 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the sauce is about as thick as a milkshake. Remove from heat and add the salt, cayenne, and 1/2 cup (40g) of the Swiss-style grated cheese; stir until the cheese is melted.
• 5. Butter a shallow 2 1/2- to 3-quart (2.5 to 3l) baking dish. (A wide dish is preferable to a deep one for browning the cheese topping.) Sprinkle half of the Parmesan over the bottom and sides. Spread 1 cup (250ml) of the mornay sauce over the bottom of the baking dish.
• 6. Line a large dinner plate with a few layers of paper towels. Bring a pot of salted water to a low boil. Either using two soupspoons-one to scoop up some of the dough and the other to scrape it into the boiling water-or a spring-loaded ice cream scoop filled partially full, scoop a round of the dough-about 1 generous tablespoon each-and drop it into the water. (The ice cream scoop was a little newfangled for Paule, although she did agree-reluctantly-that it was more expedient and made nicer gnocchi.) Working in batches, poach 8 to 10 gnocchi at a time. Let them poach for 2 minutes, then retrieve them from the water and drain them on the paper towels. (They won't be fully cooked inside.) Repeat, poaching the rest of the gnocchi the same way.
• 7. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC) with the oven rack in the top third of the oven.
• 8. Once the gnocchi are parcooked, place them in a single layer on top of the mornay in the baking dish, and then spoon the rest of the mornay over the gnocchi in a fairly even layer. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/4 cups (100g) of Swiss-style cheese over the top, along with the remaining Parmesan. Put the baking dish on a foil-covered baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 400ºF (200ºC) and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese on top is well browned. Let cool a few minutes, and then serve in the baking dish, family style.

Steps:

• In small saucepan, combine water, salt and nutmeg with 2 tablespoons butter. Bring to boil over high heat. Add flour all at once and beat dough with wooden spoon until thick and comes away from sides of pan. Cook, stirring to dry out dough, about 30 seconds. Transfer dough to medium bowl. Cool 5 minutes.
• Bring large pot of salted water to boil over high heat. Set bowl of ice water near stove.
• Beat 1 egg into dough until incorporated. Beat in 1/4 cup cheese and another egg until blended. Beat in last egg until dough is smooth and shiny. With spatula, transfer dough to large resealable plastic bag, pressing it into one corner. Cut tip off bag to create opening 1/2-inch long.
• Reduce boiling water to gentle simmer. Hold bag over water with one hand and squeeze out dough, using small sharp knife to cut it into 1-1/2-inch lengths; let drop into water. Simmer gnocchi 3 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer to ice water. Transfer to paper towels and pat dry.
• Grease 13- by 9-inch baking dish with remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Scatter gnocchi in dish; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons cheese. Bake in preheated 350F oven until puffed, about 25 minutes. Preheat broiler. Broil gnocchi 6 inches from heat until browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Makes 4 servings.

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine water, salt and spices along with 2 tablespoons of the butter. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat.
• As soon as the water boils and butter is melted, add the flour all at once.
• Beat the dough with a wooden spoon until it is thick, smooth and forms a ball. Continue to cook, stirring constantly to dry out the dough, about 30 seconds.
• Transfer the dough to a mixing bowl and let cool slightly, about 5 minutes. (You are cooling it long enough that it will not cook the eggs you are going to add.).
• Beat 1 egg into the dough until incorporated. Be sure to scrape the bowl a couple times so that the egg is evenly incorporated.
• Beat in 1/4 cup of grated cheese and another egg until blended, followed by the last egg until the dough is very smooth. Make sure you get each egg well incorporated before adding the next.
• Preheat the oven to 350°.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Set a bowl of ice water near the stove.
• Transfer the dough to a resealable plastic bag, pressing it into one corner.
• Cut off the tip of the bag. The opening should be about 1 inch long.
• Reduce the heat under the boiling water to maintain a gentle simmer.
• Carefully hold the bag over the water and press out the dough, using a small sharp knife to cut it into 1 1/2 inch lengths before it drops into the pot. Do this as quickly as you can so they cook evenly.
• Simmer the gnocchi for about 3 minutes.
• With a slotted spoon, transfer the gnocchi to the ice water bath to stop the cooking.
• Transfer the cooked and cooled gnocchi to paper towels and pat dry.
• Grease a 9-by-12-inch baking dish with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.
• Arrange the gnocchi in the dish and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese. You can also top with bacon bits at this point if you so desire.
• Bake until puffed, about 25 minutes.
• Preheat the broiler. Broil the gnocchi 6 inches from the heat for 1 to 2 minutes, or until browned.
• Serve right away.
• NOTE: The gnocchi can be boiled and cooled in advance and refrigerated overnight before baking and broiling.

Steps:

• In a small, heavy saucepan, melt the butter in the milk and bring to a boil.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Add the flour all at once, mixing it in quickly with a sturdy wooden spoon.
• Return the pan to low heat and keep stirring; the mixture will form a solid mass. Continue cooking for about 1 minute to dry it somewhat.
• Transfer the dough to the bowl of a food processor and process for 4 to 5 seconds.
• Add the eggs, salt, 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and nutmeg, then process for 15 to 20 seconds, until very smooth.
• Heat about 3 -inches of water in a large saucepan, but do not bring to a boil. If the dumplings boil, they will cook too fast, expand and eventually deflate. They should poach without expanding, since they will expand later when reheated on top of the stove or in the oven.
• Using 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of dough per dumpling, scoop up the dough with a tablespoon, then push it with your index finger into the water in the saucepan; release the dough close to the water so it does not splash.
• Repeat, scooping and releasing the gnocchi as quickly as possible until all the dough is used up.
• Alternatively, fit a pastry bag with a 1-inch plain tip and fill the bag with the gnocchi dough. Rest the tip on the edge of the saucepan, press the dough out, and cut it off at the tip with a paring knife as the dough emerges, making small gnocchi, each approximately 1 1/2 -inches long.
• Or, you can use prepared gnocchi!
• Poach the gnocchi in water for approximately 3 minutes. They will rise to the surface when they are cooked sufficiently.
• Using a slotted spoon, lift the gnocchi carefully from the water and place them in a bowl of ice water to cool. They will sink to the bottom of the bowl when cool.
• Drain and use right away, or refrigerate for later use.
• At serving time, drop the gnocchi into a saucepan containing about 3 -inches of boiling water. Cook at a very gentle boil for 6 to 8 minutes, depending on size.
• Meanwhile, stir the melted butter and olive oil together in a small bowl.
• When the gnocchi are cooked inside and lightly puffed, transfer them with a slotted spoon to a warm platter.
• Toss lightly with the butter and oil, and sprinkle with the 1/3 cup grated cheese.
• Alternatively, preheat the oven to 375°. Arrange the cold gnocchi in one layer in one large or two smaller gratin dishes. Pour on the butter and oil, and top with the grated cheese. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until puffed and lightly browned.
• Sprinkle with the basil, tomatoes and cheese shavings, and serve.