No way I can make a good pumpkin pie. I haven’t tried it yet but somehow I sense it’s just not my cup of tea. However some kind of pumpkin puree magic must happen in my kitchen since I’ve got a few tins of smashed squash to get rid of. Bear with me, another couple of recipes and I will get it over with all things pumpkin and relatives. Amen.
Meantime it’s pumpkin gnocchi time.
I write homemade gnocchi and my mind goes straight to images of my grandma’s house in Naples. She is a 90 year old lady that enjoys living alone and cooking homemade pasta for her family. On Sundays we still find her working a dough made with potatoes, eggs and flour on a table in a medium sized kitchen overlooking a balcony with plants she takes care of scrupulously. On that table top entirely covered with dumplings and flour she masters technical “gnocchi skills” with a laudable speed I cannot really compete with (well, taking pictures of food disadvantages me a lot :)).
Indeed, it took me half an hour or so to go all the way through the recipe. Too sticky, too wet, unmanageable, unroll-able, gnocchi scattered here and there, flour on the camera and all over me. Bringing to boil these delicious golden nuggets and sauteing them in butter with a few walnuts, took me a few instants instead. Eventually it was just me being too fussy about the shape. Homemade gnocchi are to be beautifully irregular.
In the end I am happy with the final dish and wonder why in Italy no one has spread the voice about pumpkin gnocchi. I can only imagine it wouldn’t be the easiest task ever to explain this pumpkin-puree-in-a-tin story to Italians. Not to mention my grandma. After all, why betray a 3 ingredient recipe proven to make families happy and grandmothers even more adorable every Sunday morning?
No doubt the most traditional gnocchi recipe works perfectly, especially when served with a fresh homemade tomato sauce. Mine? Worked too. However, to be 100% honest I note that the addition of the pumpkin does not contribute in a distinctive way to the taste. Perhaps, at least in this case, it’s more a matter of color and texture. Or just another case of pumpkin mania.
Pumpkin Gnocchi
- 1 cup plain flour (plus more to get the right consistency)
- 4-5 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 egg
- 4 tbsp. butter
- a bunch of parsley (finely chopped)
- a handful of walnuts (crushed)
- salt and pepper to taste
- In a bowl combine all the ingredients of the dough together (flour, pumpkin puree, nutmeg, egg and a pinch of salt). Roll the dough with your hands to make small cylinders; Sprinkle more flour if needed to help you shape the cylinders.
- With the knife cut them into little pillows about 2 cm each. In a large pan bring water to boil and carefully drop the gnocchi in.
- When they rise to the surface drain them and keep aside.
- In an another pan over medium heat, add butter, salt, pepper and walnuts.
- Transfer the gnocchi in this pan and saute them for a couple of minutes. Stir in the finely shopped parsley for one minute or so. Serve warm.
I have been meaning to make gnocchi for the longest time. This looks SO good!
Woot, I will ceratinly put this to good use!
I made these last night. They were delicious. I substituted fresh sage for the parsley. I love how easy they were. I’ll definitely make them again!
So glad to hear that, Andi! Yep, definitely sage and butter is a tasty evergreen 🙂
A frantastic fall dish and glorious combination!
Cheers,
Rosa
Question, step one says combine all ingredients? Walnut and butter? Or is it combine first 4 (flour-egg).
Excited to try…
Right Carolyn, just all the ingredients for the dough, flour, pumpkin puree, nutmeg and the egg. Sorry if that step wasn’t clear!
Looks fantastic! Any ideas on what I can substitute for the flour? I like to stay gluten-free 🙂 Thank you!
You could make gnocchi with potatoes (first boiled then mashed) and add a bit of buckwheat flour to reach the right consistency. I’ll have to try this recipe out and blog about it soon. Alternatively just substitute the white flour with the buckwheat one! Thanks to you Jamie!
Gnocchi is on my list of things to make but haven’t yet, but seeing this pumpkin version, it makes me want to run into the kitchen! Thank you!
Wow,
This would be a big hit at my place. Would love to try it out!
Hi Daniela, I love anything with pumpkins:) I would love to try your recipe with my homegrown red kuri squash. Beautiful photos!
Such lovely combination of flavors and a very comforting dish of gnochhi.
Wow! That looks amazing! Can I just say that I love when healthy food looks pretty!! YUM
Pumpkin and nutty walnuts goes so well!! Your grandmother sounds like a fab lady 🙂
Wow, these look like pumpkin perfection! Your photos are so gorgeous.
So glad you like my pics. I love yours 🙂
homemade pumpkin gnocchi with nutty sauce… wow I need a bowl of it too… It looks delicious 🙂 Glad to follow you
So happy you popped over!
Fresh gnocchi must be amazing with this sauce. I can eat a big bowl of it! Delicious! 🙂
Just lovely! I think I would take a bowl of gnocchi over a pumpkin pie just about now. Especially ones as delicious as these! Love the butter walnut sauce too. So very good!
Thanks for stopping by, Monet. It would be also nice to finish the dinner off with a pumpkin pie 🙂
The pictures look amazing, so do the Gnoccis.
Love the combination of flavors Pumpkin-butter Walnut sauce!
Sounds soo good.
Your grandmother sounds amazing! I can just picture her in her kitchen, whipping up homemade gnocchi.
I think your gnocchi looks fabulous! I love the idea of pumpkin and sage together too. Complete perfection.