Best Basil Gnocchi Recipes

GNOCCHI WITH SWEET BASIL PESTO AND GARLIC BUTTER SHRIMP

Steps:

• Combine basil, 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, olive oil, whole garlic cloves, salt, and pepper in a blender; puree until pesto is smooth.
• Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic; cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add shrimp; cook and stir until opaque, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook gnocchi in the boiling water until they float to the top, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain. Mix pesto into gnocchi and serve with shrimp. Garnish with remaining Parmesan cheese.

CHEF JOHN'S BASIL RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Briefly blanch basil leaves in simmering water, about 20 seconds. Transfer immediately to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking. Drain on towels. Place basil in bowl of a blender. Add eggs. Blend until basil is blended in and mixture achieves an even green color with flecks of basil.
• Place ricotta in a mixing bowl. Add basil/egg mixture, salt, cayenne, Parmesan cheese, and flour. Thoroughly mix together using a spatula; whisk mixture to ensure ingredient are evenly blended. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and firm, about 2 hours.
• Scoop out a small portion of dough using a teaspoon. Using a second spoon, shape into a rounded oval. Repeat until you have enough gnocchi for a batch, about 6 or so.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a simmer. Drop shaped gnocchi in batches into pot as you form them. After a minute or so they will rise to the surface. Continue simmering until they spring back to the touch when you remove one from the water to test it, 2 to 3 more minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Optional step: Melt butter in a skillet until bubbling. Add cooked gnocchi and brown on each side. Serve with a dusting of grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of the butter from the pan.

BAKED GNOCCHI WITH TOMATO AND BASIL

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large heatproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Saute gnocchi until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Heat the remaining oil in the same skillet. Add onion; cook and stir until onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes and water; cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Place gnocchi back in the skillet; add basil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until gnocchi is tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.
• Transfer skillet to the preheated oven. Bake until cheese is well browned, about 8 minutes.

ONE-PAN CHICKEN AND GNOCCHI IN TOMATO-BASIL SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the dried Italian seasoning and a good pinch of salt. Arrange the chicken in the pan, cover and sear for 5 minutes. Flip, cover and sear the chicken another 5 minutes. (It won't be cooked all the way through, but that's okay! We'll finish in a bit.) Remove the chicken from the pan.
• Add a splash of water to the pan to deglaze, if needed, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits. Add the zucchini to the pan in a single layer. Season with a pinch of salt and sear for 2 minutes. Flip and sear until nicely charred on both sides, another minute or two. Add the chicken (and its juices) back to the pan, and bring the heat down to medium-low. Add the tomato sauce, along with about 1/3 cup water swirled in the jar, along with the gnocchi. Using tongs, nestle the gnocchi down in the sauce, so that it's all covered. Cover with a lid and bring the heat up to medium. Simmer until the gnocchi is tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Divide the dish among dinner bowls, and use forks to shred the chicken a little, if you want. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
• Serve immediately!

GNOCCHI WITH TOMATOES, BASIL AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Cut the baked potato in half and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; discard the skin. Using a fork mash the potato, salt and pepper together until smooth. Mix in 3 tablespoons of the egg (reserve the remaining egg for another use). Sprinkle the flour over the potato mixture. Stir until the mixture forms a dough. Knead until smooth, 30 seconds.
• On a lightly floured work surface, divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece between your palms and the work surface into a 1/2-inch-diameter rope (about 20 inches long). Cut the dough into 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece of dough over a wooden paddle with ridges or over the tines of a fork to form grooves in the dough.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the gnocchi and cook until the gnocchi rise to the surface, about 1 minute. Continue cooking until the gnocchi are tender, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of pasta cooking water.
• For the sauce: In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the olives and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Add the gnocchi to the skillet and stir until heated through, about 1 minute. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the Parmesan and basil. Toss gently until all the ingredients are coated, adding the reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce, and serve.

POTATO GNOCCHI WITH BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Put about two inches of water in a large pot fitted with a steamer basket and place pot over high heat. Add potatoes, cover, and steam until fork tender, about 45 minutes. Drain well, then peel: Holding each potato with a thick, dry kitchen towel (they will be too hot to hold directly), remove the skin with a paring knife. Immediately pass the potatoes through a ricer. Spread out on a baking sheet and let cool completely.
• Turn out potatoes onto a work surface, then mix egg with one tablespoon salt and pour over the potatoes and add flour in 1/2 cup increments, up to 1 1/2 cups. Start to work the mixture with your hands and bring it together to form a dough; then gently knead 4 to 5 minutes, adding more flour (up to 1/2 cup total) as necessary to keep the dough from sticking, until dough is smooth and elastic. (To check, pinch off a piece and roll into a rope; it should not break apart).
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with a dry clean kitchen towel (or parchment paper) and sprinkle liberally with flour. Use a bench scraper to divide dough into four to six pieces. Begin gently rolling each piece under the palms of your hands into a rope, then continue rolling until it is ½ inch in diameter. Use the bench scraper to cut ropes crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Roll a cut side of each dumpling against the tines of a fork with your thumb (each piece will have ridges on one side and an indentation on the other). Set gnocchi in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. If not cooking immediately, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 hours.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add a generous amount of salt. Working in small batches, add gnocchi and cook until they float to the top, about 2 minutes. Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon and gently shake off excess water before placing in a large pasta bowl. (If not serving immediately, plunge gnocchi into an ice-water bath to stop the cooking. Once completely cool, drain thoroughly, toss with a little extra-virgin olive oil, and refrigerate in a covered container for up to 3 hours. Reheat slowly on the stove, with the serving sauce or melted butter. Freezing gnocchi is not recommended.) Toss with pesto while boiling remaining gnocchi.
• Once the last batch has been boiled, drained, and tossed with pesto, divide gnocchi among bowls and serve at once, garnished with basil.

GNOCCHI WITH TOMATO, BASIL, AND OLIVES

Steps:

• In a large, deep skillet, heat the butter over medium-high heat until foaming. Add the olives and cook, stirring, until sizzling, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Bring the salted water to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Cook and drain the gnocchi according to the directions
• Bring the tomato sauce back to a simmer over low heat. Add the gnocchi and stir gently with a wooden spoon until coated. Stir in the grated cheese and basil. Check the seasoning, transfer the gnocchi to a platter, and serve immediately.

GNOCCHI WITH ZUCCHINI RIBBONS & BASIL BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Cook gnocchi according to package instructions until they float, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the butter is beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add shallots and zucchini and cook, stirring often, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cherry tomatoes, salt, nutmeg and pepper and continue cooking, stirring often, until the tomatoes are just starting to break down, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in Parmesan and parsley. Add gnocchi and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND GNOCCHI SOUP WITH FRESH BASIL

Steps:

• Add 1/2 inch water to a 10-inch frying pan. Place sausage links in the pan, cover, and heat over medium heat for 10 minutes. Remove the lid, turn the links, and cook for another 10 minutes, adding more water as needed to prevent scorching. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Transfer sausages to a cutting board and let cool.
• While the sausages are cooking, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook gnocchi in the boiling water until they float to the top, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain.
• At the same time, heat olive oil in a 12-inch saute pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms, shallots, and red pepper flakes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are soft and onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add diced tomatoes and Italian seasoning; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in chicken stock, basil, and bay leaf and bring to a low boil. Add spinach, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer; cook for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Slice sausage links and add to the pan. Simmer soup for 5 minutes.
• Place gnocchi in serving bowls and ladle soup mixture over top. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

BREAD "GNOCCHI" WITH TOMATO AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Chop bread into bite size pieces. Add extra-virgin olive oil, butter and garlic to the skillet. Melt butter into oil then add the bread. Season the bread with salt and pepper. Toss and cook the bread 7 to 8 minutes then add the tomato sauce and fresh tomatoes. Turn to coat and warm the tomato sauce, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the bread gnocchi and tomatoes from heat and transfer to a flameproof casserole dish, top with basil then cover the dish with cheese. Place the casserole under the broiler and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until the cheese browns and bubbles. Serve immediately.

BASIL GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Make the gnocchi: Mix the instant potatoes with 1 cup hot water in a bowl using a fork; set aside until the potatoes absorb the liquid, 3 minutes. Meanwhile, puree the basil and 1/4 cup cold water in a blender until smooth. Stir the basil puree, egg, pecorino and 1 tablespoon salt into the potato mixture.
• Mound 3/4 cup flour on a surface; add the potato mixture and knead together until smooth, gradually adding the remaining 1/4 cup flour. Divide the dough into 3 portions; roll each into a 1-inch-diameter log (dust with flour, if needed). Cut each log into 1/2-inch pieces; place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate while making the sauce (or freeze up to 1 month).
• Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pine nuts; fry until toasted, swirling the pan. Transfer the nuts with a slotted spoon to paper towels and season with salt. Add the shallots and garlic to the pan and cook until soft, 3 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a boil. Add the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and toss; cook until the tomatoes are just soft, 2 more minutes.
• Cook the gnocchi in a large pot of salted boiling water until tender, about 1 minute after they float to the surface. Drain and toss with the sauce. Top with the toasted pine nuts and more basil and pecorino.

BLACK OLIVE GNOCCHI WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a saucepan, cover with salted water and boil until tender, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet, add garlic, cook over medium heat until barely starting to color; stir in tomatoes. Coarsely chop olives and add half to the skillet. Cook briefly, until tomatoes collapse. Season with salt and pepper, and remove from heat.
• When potatoes are tender, peel and rice them into a large bowl. Mix all but 3 tablespoons flour with 1 1/4 cups cheese, toss with potatoes and pile in a mound on work surface. Make a well in center. Mix egg yolks and olive paste, and place in well. Chop remaining olives finely and add to well. Knead to blend ingredients and form a soft dough. Shape into a ball and divide in 8 portions. Roll each into a rope about 10 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter. Cut into 1/2-inch dumplings (gnocchi). Dust with remaining flour and lightly pile in a bowl.
• Bring 4 quarts salted water to a boil. Reduce heat to a fast simmer, add gnocchi and as they rise to the surface, use a slotted spoon or skimmer to remove to a colander. Drain.
• Reheat sauce in skillet, fold in basil and add gnocchi. Heat, mixing gently. Check seasoning and serve, with extra cheese alongside.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH LEMON BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, whip the ricotta to break up the curds. Add the egg and stir until evenly combined.
• 2. Add flour and mix well.
• 3. Roll into snake, cut into 1/2 inch piece and make an indentation with your thumb into each gnocchi.
• 4. Dust with corn meal.
• 5. Place in boiling water when they rise to the top they are done.
• 6. MAKE PESTO BEFORE COOKING GNOCCHI!! Place lemon in food processor and process till finely chopped.
• 7. Add basil, pine nuts and garlic blend.
• 8. Add cheese and drizzle olive oil in as processing.
• 9. In a medium hot saute pan add 2-3 tablespoons of oil and 4-5 strips of lemon zest
• 10. Add drained gnocchi to saute pan add prepared lemon pesto toss add some parmesan cheese. Serve hot.

BASIL PESTO FOR POTATO GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Cover garlic in a small saucepan with water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high heat, then immediately drain and let garlic cool to room temperature.
• In a blender or food processor, pulse basil, garlic, pine nuts, and the cheese to incorporate. Pour in the oil in a slow steady stream, and pulse until combined; season with salt. Serve immediately or cover with a layer of oil and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze in small amounts for easy use.

RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH ROASTED CORN BROWN BUTTER, CRISPY PROSCIUTTO, PARMESAN AND FRESH BASIL

Steps:

• For the gnocchi: Whisk together the ricotta, egg, lemon zest, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt and pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the flour and mix until a soft, slightly wet dough forms, adding more flour if needed. Remove the dough to a lightly floured surface and gently knead until the dough just comes together. Form into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes and up to 1 day.
• With lightly floured hands, shape the dough on a well-floured surface into two 1-inch-thick ropes. Cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces with a lightly floured knife. Arrange in a single layer on a lightly floured parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the gnocchi, in batches if needed, until they float, 2 minutes. Drain well.
• For the corn sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the garlic, shallots and chile and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the corn and saute for 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken stock, bring to a boil and cook until the corn begins to soften, about 10 minutes. Remove the corn to a blender with a slotted spoon and add 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Blend on low speed, pulsing a few times, until smooth, adding more liquid if necessary to create a sauce consistency.
• Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook until warmed through and thickened, about 15 minutes.
• For the prosciutto: Heat the oil in a small saute pan until it begins to shimmer. Fry the prosciutto one slice at a time until crisp, about 1 minute.
• Remove the prosciutto to a plate lined with paper towels and season with pepper. Let cool slightly and crumble into pieces.
• To serve: Melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat until it begins to turn a light amber color. Add the drained gnocchi and cook until lightly golden, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon some of the sauce into shallow bowls and top with the gnocchi. Garnish with shaved Parmesan, crumbled prosciutto and basil.

GNOCCHI WITH TOMATO, BASIL AND OLIVES

Steps:

• In a large, deep skillet, heat the butter over medium-high heat until foaming. Add the olives and cook, stirring, until sizzling, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Bring the salted water to a boil and then add gnocchi. Cook gnocchi, stirring gently until tender, about 1 minute after they rise to the surface of the pot. Drain the gnocchi.
• Bring the tomato sauce back to a simmer over low heat. Add the gnocchi and stir gently with a wooden spoon until coated. Stir in the grated cheese and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

GNOCCHI WITH BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• Cook potatoes and pass through a ricer Cover whole (unpeeled) potatoes in a medium pot with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 35 to 40 minutes. Drain well, then peel: Holding each potato with a thick, dry kitchen towel (they will be too hot to hold directly), remove the skin with a paring knife. Immediately pass the potatoes through a ricer. Spread out on a baking sheet and let cool completely.
• Mix dough Turn out potatoes onto a work surface, then pour the egg over the potatoes and sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of flour and 1 tablespoon salt. Start to work the mixture with your hands and bring it together to form a dough; then gently knead 4 to 5 minutes, adding more flour (up to 1/2 cup total) as necessary to keep the dough from sticking, until dough is smooth and elastic. (To check, pinch off a piece and roll into a rope; it should not break apart.) Pat dough into a rough rectangle, 2 to 3 inches thick.
• Cut and shape Line a rimmed baking sheet with a dry clean kitchen towel (or parchment paper) and sprinkle liberally with flour. Use a bench scraper to divide dough into four to six pieces. Begin gently rolling each piece under the palms of your hands into a rope, then continue rolling until it is 1/2 inchin diameter. Use the bench scraper to cut ropes crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Roll a cut side of each dumpling against the tines of a fork with your thumb (each piece will have ridges on one side and an indentation on the other). Set gnocchi in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. If not cooking immediately, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 hours.
• Cook Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add a generous amount of salt. Working in small batches, add gnocchi and cook until they float to the top, about 2 minutes. Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon and gently shake off excess water before placing in a large pasta bowl. (If not serving immediately, plunge gnocchi into an ice-water bath to stop the cooking. Once completely cool, drain thoroughly, toss with a little extra-virgin olive oil, and refrigerate in a covered container for up to 3 hours. Reheat slowly on the stove, with the serving sauce or melted butter. Freezing gnocchi is not recommended.) Toss with pesto while boiling remaining gnocchi.
• Serve Once the last batch has been boiled, drained, and tossed with pesto, divide gnocchi among bowls and serve at once, garnished with basil.

CHEF JOHN'S BASIL RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Briefly blanch basil leaves in simmering water, about 20 seconds. Transfer immediately to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking. Drain on towels.
• Place basil in bowl of a blender. Add eggs. Blend until basil is blended in and mixture achieves an even green color with flecks of basil.
• Place ricotta in a mixing bowl. Add basil/egg mixture, salt, cayenne, Parmesan cheese, and flour. Thoroughly mix together using a spatula; whisk mixture to ensure ingredient are evenly blended.
• Cover and refrigerate until chilled and firm, about 2 hours.
• Scoop out a small portion of dough using a teaspoon. Using a second spoon, shape into a rounded oval. Repeat until you have enough gnocchi for a batch, about 6 or so.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a simmer. To check seasoning, cook a test piece of dough in salted water. Add more salt if needed.
• Drop shaped gnocchi in batches into pot as you form them. After a minute or so they will rise to the surface. Continue simmering until they spring back to the touch when you remove one from the water to test it, 2 to 3 more minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Optional step: Melt butter in a skillet until bubbling. Add cooked gnocchi and brown on each side.
• Serve with a dusting of grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of the butter from the pan.
• Note: My fancy basket ricotta tends to be low-moisture, so if you're using the much wetter supermarket brands, be sure to drain in a strainer in the fridge for a few hours to allow the excess water to drip out.
• Note: You can serve those with any of your favorite pasta sauces for a main dish, or served "as is," they make a stellar side dish or first course.

BLACK OLIVE GNOCCHI WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a saucepan, cover with salted water and boil until tender, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet, add garlic, cook over medium heat until barely starting to color; stir in tomatoes. Coarsely chop olives and add half to the skillet. Cook briefly, until tomatoes collapse. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
• When potatoes are tender, peel and rice them into a large bowl. Mix all but 3 tablespoons flour with 1 1/4 cups cheese, toss with potatoes and pile in a mound on work surface. Make a well in the center. Mix egg yolks and olive paste, and place in well. Chop remaining olives finely and add to well. Knead to blend ingredients and form a soft dough. Shape into a ball and divide into 8 portions. Roll each into a rope about 10 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter. Cut into 1/2 inch dumplings (gnocchi). Dust with remaining flour and lightly pile in a bowl.
• Bring 4 quarts salted water to a boil. Reduce heat to a fast simmer, add gnocchi and as they rise to the surface, remove with a slotted spoon. Drain in colander.
• Reheat sauce in skillet, fold in basil and add gnocchi. Heat, mixing gently. Check seasoning and serve with extra cheese alongside.

GNOCCHI WITH CHEESE, PROSCIUTTO AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat olive oil over med.
• low heat and saute garlic until softin a large non-stick frying pan.
• Meanwhile, grate cheeses and slice the prosciutto in strips.
• Tear or chop the the basil into small pieces.
• Cook the gnocchi in boiling salted water as directed on package.
• When cooked, drain gnocchi and add to oil and garlic in pan and toss until pasta is coated with oil.
• Add prosciutto and toss.
• Transfer to serving dish and add cheeses, tossing pasta till coated.
• Garnish with fresh ground pepper to taste and the chopped basil.