Gnudi

Name: Gnudi
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: Spinach fresh 1.5 lbs; Sheep's milk ricotta cheese 1 ½ cup; Type 00 flour 0.4 cup; Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese grated 1.8 oz; Eggs (about 1) 2 oz; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper 1 pinch; Nutmeg to taste; Type 00 flour to taste; Butter 0.9 cup; Sage to taste; Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese to taste

Vegetarian

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Serving: 6 persone
Cost: Very low

PRESENTATION

Gnudi are a rustic and simple first course, typical of Tuscan cuisine. Tuscans, as we know, are substantial people and do everything their own way. Instead of mixing eggs and flour, rolling out the dough, filling and sealing it in the form of ravioli, one fine day who knows how long ago they must have said: why imprison this beautiful filling of ricotta and spinach in the pasta? Let's leave it free and... "beautifully naked"! Thus were born the gnudi: a first course of peasant tradition, typical of the regions of Maremma and Mugello, extraordinarily dedicated to sheep farming and good rustic, poor, and generous flavors. Gnudo, in the wonderful and expressive Tuscan language, literally means "nude": such is the filling of the Maremma tortello, which has become a substantial dumpling (in some cases quenelle) to be boiled in water as is, then seasoned with butter and sage, but delicately, so as not to melt it in the pan. Yes, because we said rustic, not rude! The gnudi, in their simplicity, are a dish that surprises with elegance and balance, and preparing them is an art that requires a delicate touch. Today we tell you how to prepare this exquisite Tuscan dish: follow our step-by-step version, and you will bring to your table the sincere taste of Maremma!

And if you loved this recipe with spinach, also try the black cabbage gnudi variant or discover these regional recipes:

Strangolapreti alla trentina
Malfatti bresciani

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients for about 54 gnudi: Spinach 1.5 lbs (700 g) - fresh; Sheep's milk ricotta cheese 1 ½ cup (350 g); Type 00 flour 0.4 cup (45 g); Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese 1.8 oz (50 g) - grated; Eggs 2 oz (58 g) - (about 1); Fine salt to taste; Black pepper 1 pinch; Nutmeg to taste

For dusting: Type 00 flour to taste

For the seasoning: Butter 0.9 cup (100 g); Sage to taste; Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese to taste

Preparation

How to prepare Gnudi

To prepare the gnudi, first place the ricotta in a colander to remove the whey 1. In a pot, pour the previously washed spinach 2, cover with the lid 3 and wilt for 7-8 minutes over low heat.

Once cooked, transfer them to a colander 4 and let them cool, losing the liquid released during cooking 5. Squeeze them carefully 6.

Chop the spinach 7 and pour them into a bowl 8, add the well-drained sheep ricotta 9.

Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg 10, add the egg 11 and grated Parmigiano Reggiano PDO 12.

To better bind the mixture, add the flour 13 and mix carefully 14, for a homogeneous mixture. Take a small amount of dough, about 0.6-0.7 oz (18-20 g), form a slightly flattened ball, and place it on a tray 15.

Continue this way until the dough is finished and sprinkle the gnudi with a little flour 16. Place a pan full of water on the stove for cooking and bring it to a boil. Meanwhile, in a very large pan, melt the butter with the sage 17. Boil the gnudi in boiling water 18.

As the gnudi rise to the surface, drain them into the pan 19. Let them flavor by rotating the pan to avoid breaking them 20. Serve the gnudi hot with more grated Parmigiano 21.

How to store

The gnudi should be consumed preferably as soon as they are made. Once formed and raw they can be stored in the fridge covered for up to 12 hours. They can be frozen for about 1 month and boiled while still frozen. Once cooked, consume the gnudi within 1 day, storing them in the fridge covered.

Tips

An equally tasty and common alternative seasoning involves flavoring the gnudi with a good fresh tomato sauce instead of butter and sage.

To make the spinach tastier, after wilting them, you can sauté them in a pan with olive oil and garlic.

As an alternative to sheep ricotta, you can use cow ricotta, which has a more delicate taste.

To sauté the gnudi in a pan, choose a very large one, so they will have enough space to be tossed and will not break.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.