Gnocchi with Tomato Sugo

Gnocchi with Tomato Sugo

Prep time :

30 minutes

Cook time :

1 hour

Serves :

6

Total Time :

1 hour 30 minutes

Gnocchi with Tomato Sugo

Soft potato gnocchi meet a vibrant tomato sugo in this classic Italian comfort dish. Chef Massimo Mele’s recipe balances tender handmade pillows of dough with a simple sauce made from ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil, and Parmigiano, perfect for sharing at family gatherings or cosy dinners.

Ingredients

For the gnocchi:

  • 1kg large floury potatoes (about 4, e.g. kennebecs)
  • 300g sifted 00 flour
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 20g salt
  • 250g rock salt

For the sauce:

  • 600g very ripe Santorini tomatoes, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 130ml olive oil
  • 1 cup basil leaves
  • Salt and pepper
  • 150ml high-quality passata
  • 100g grated Parmigiano

Method

Bake the Potatoes:

  • Preheat oven to 180°C. Spread rock salt across a baking tray, place potatoes on top, bake until soft (50–60 minutes). Slice in half, scoop out flesh once cool enough to handle.

Make Gnocchi Dough

  • Push potato flesh through a ricer. On a flour-dusted bench, combine riced potatoes, salt, egg yolk, and half the flour; mix gently with a fork. Gradually add remaining flour until a smooth dough forms. Knead briefly to avoid toughness.

Shape Gnocchi:

  • Break off pieces of dough and roll into tubes. Cut tubes into bite-sized pieces (not too large).

Cook Tomato Sugo:

  • Heat 100ml olive oil in a sauté pan. Add garlic, cook gently until golden, then remove garlic. Add tomatoes, cook for 10 minutes, add passata after 5 minutes, simmer until tomatoes break down

Cook Gnocchi:

  • Boil gnocchi in salted water until they float. Drain and transfer gnocchi to the tomato sauce.

Finish the Dish:

  • Add 100ml pasta water to the sauce, cook until sauce thickens and coats gnocchi. Stir in basil, season, add Parmigiano and the rest of the olive oil. Mix well for extra creaminess.

Serve:

  • Plate gnocchi and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

Chef’s Tip

For the lightest gnocchi, work the dough as little as possible; overmixing makes them dense. Freezes well for later, so batch cook and enjoy anytime.

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