Tag Archives: ricotta

Eggplant Rollatini

Easy Weeknight Meals, Low Calorie, Main Courses, , , , , , , , , ,

I have written about Coach Farms goat ricotta in other posts, it’s great in lasagna and for making gnocchi.  I love it in this recipe as well.  It’s more flavorful, creamier and less chalky than other ricottas, and it is lower in fat and calories than even part-skim ricotta.  I find it at Whole Foods and PCC in Seattle.

If you aren’t a big lover of eggplant, or don’t think you like eggplant, I encourge you to try this recipe anyway.  There are two reasons that people generally don’t like eggplant:  the texture and the bitter flavor.  This texture of the eggplant in this dish is melt-in-your mouth, and the bitterness is extracted from the eggplant with salt prior to cooking.  I recommend salting eggplant to extract the bitter liquid prior to using eggplant in any preparation.  I salt eggplant slices prior to making eggplant parmesan, and I salt it is cube form prior to making ratatuille.  The only time that I don’t use the pre-salting technique is if I’m using a small Japanese or Chinese eggplant.  These varieties don’t seem to have the same bitterness as the larger varieties.

 eggplant rollatini cooked
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Easy Ricotta Gnocchi

Easy Weeknight Meals, Main Courses, , , , , , , ,

The first time I tried to make gnocchi was in 2001.  Things I remember about the experience: it was a sweet potato gnocchi, it was gooey as hell, there was a TON of it (most of which was thrown away) and the process of making it nearly resulted in a divorce.

Until now, I have avoided making my own gnocchi since the “gnocchi incident”, though I have remained gnocchi-curious.  Twelve years later, and with a new husband (who doesn’t cook and in no way participated in the process), I decided to give gnocchi another try.  This time I would start simple.  Instead of traditional potato gnocchi, I would make a ricotta gnocchi.  No ricing potatos, and less chance of a gooey mess.  This recipe was inspired by a post in the aptly-named Inspired Taste blog.   Ladies and gentlemen, I give you weeknight gnocchi.  I AM NOT KIDDING!!!

gnocchi

gnocchi with pesto

rolling gnocchi

cutting gnocchi

Print Recipe

Easy Ricotta Gnocchi

Super easy gnocchi. Seriously. Pair with pesto, a simple homemade tomato sauce, or brown in butter seasoned with fresh sage.
Servings: 6

Ingredients

For Gnocchi

  • 1 lb. ricotta I used an artisnal product: Coach Farms goat milk ricotta, which is lighter and less fatty than traditional ricotta.
  • 2 eggs
  • pinch salt
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated parmaggiano reggiano
  • 1 1/2 cups flour I used "00" flour.

Instructions

  • Mix eggs, ricotta, salt, and cheese together in a bowl. Slowly add flour until a shaggy dough comes together.
  • Remove dough from bowl and shape into a log.
  • Cut log in half and cut each half into four equal pieces.
  • Roll each piece of dough into a rope that is ~1 inch thick and cut gnocchi into ~1 inch pieces.
  • Place cut gnocchi on a parchment-lined baking sheet and set aside.
  • Continue rolling and cutting remaining dough.
  • When all gnocchi is cut, you can cook immediately or freeze for later use.*

To Cook

  • Heat large pot of salted water to boiling.
  • Gently add gnocchi to pot. Be careful not to overcrowd the pot, as this could cause the gnocchi to stick together. When cooking for more than two people, I cook gnocchi in batches.
  • When gnocchi begin to float to the top of the pot, they are done.
  • Remove from pot, drain well, and toss with your favorite sauce.

Notes

* To freeze gnocchi, place parchment lined baking sheet with gnocchi in the freezer until the gnocchi are frozen (about 45 minutes). When gnocchi are frozen, remove from baking sheet and place in zip top plastic bags for easy storage.
Adapted from Inspired Taste