Nonna Italia’s Potato Gnocchi

Making homemade pasta is well known to be a strong Italian tradition, especially amongst the old italian ladies with puffy hair and glasses. Old Italian ladies with puffy hair and glasses are the only reason as to why Italy remains close to their cultural roots, and eat so well. My Nonna shows me what it means to be Italian in the best way: by making gnocchi. 

Gnocchi with Ragu

Some people like to call them potato dumplings, others claim they are more italian potato pasta balls. Whatever you may call the traditional plate of gnocchi di patate, you are sure to find the best is handmade. I’ve been making gnocchi with my Nonna as long as I can remember, therefore it will always be a meal that brings back memories. This summer, continuing a BenGusto tradition, I made a large batch of potato gnocchi with Nonna Italia. The difference this time: I managed to write down the process.

Potato Gnocchi

If I could embroider this internet post in gold stitchings, I would. This recipe is ancient, used by Nonnas all over Italy since the dawn of time. But Bengusto.com only deserves the best.

Nonna Italia’s Potato Gnocchi

(serves 8 people) (ready in 1 hour) 

  • 4 pounds of Gold Potatoes
  • All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • Salt
  • Your favorite tomato sauce, ragu, pesto (or a combo of fresh pesto and tomato is delightful!)

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (you will need about 3 tsp. salt).

Peel the skins of the russet potatoes, dice them into large cubes (this helps them cook faster), and give them a rinse in the sink. Throw them into the boiling water and let cook for about 7 minutes, or until they are nice and soft.

Once the potatoes are cooked, mash using a hand grinder, masher, or blender. Lay out a large cutting board or countertop space, and dump the mashed potato over.

Mashed Potato Gnocchi

Crack the two eggs over the potatoes, add a handful of flour, and mix (you can also do all the mixing using an electric mixer, but the Nonnas in Italy don’t have this kind of technology yet).

Slowly continue to add flour while mixing. Continue to add flour until the dough takes the form of a ball, and is easy to mold. If you find your dough is too dry, just add a little water, or maybe even another egg.

Gradually add the flour.

Gradually add the flour.

Mixing in the egg and flour.

Mixing in the egg and flour.

Once the dough takes the shape of a ball, knead the dough for about 2 minutes.

The dough is formed into a ball.

The dough is formed into a ball.

Kneading the dough.

Kneading the dough.

Kneading the Gnocchi Dough

Now comes the best part about making homemade pasta: it becomes like playing with play-doh. Roll out long snake-like shapes of dough that are about 1 inch thick. Cut them with a knife into little imperfect balls. If the dough becomes too sticky, sprinkle more flour over the dough, surface, and tools. Take the gnocchi balls and lay them out individually over sheets of parchment paper.

Now here is a key step that is relatively unknown and often forgotten. It’s only practiced by some of the more knowledgeable Nonne (Nonnas), and even some top Italian restaurants don’t do it. Taking each gnocchi that lays on the parchment paper, you gently press and slide a fork very lightly on the gnocchi just so it creates a little indent of the fork. This step takes the gnocchi to a whole other level. There’s something about eating a gnocchi with the fork indent that is so much more exciting than just a gnocchi “ball”.

Potato Gnocchi

Potato Gnocchi

Sprinkle flour over the gnocchi. They may sit out for no more than one hour.

To Cook: Heat a large pot of boiling salted water (about 2 tsp. salt). Dump the gnocchi into the pot and cook until all the gnocchi rise to the surface (about 5 minutes). Drain the gnocchi and add them to your choice of sauce.

The gnocchi are done when they rise to the surface.

The gnocchi are done when they rise to the surface.

Cooked Potato Gnocchi

Cooked Gnocchi

To Preserve:

  • You can refrigerate the gnocchi up to 2 days. In order to package them, lay out gnocchi over the bottom of a large container. Generously dust the gnocchi with flour and make sure each side is well dusted, place a paper towel over them, and repeat the process with the next layer of gnocchi. Keep stacking them by laying, dusting, and toweling. This will keep them from sticking.
  • You can also freeze the gnocchi for up to a month

Cook Beforehand: Gnocchi can be cooked beforehand, and served with a sauce later. Cook them normally as described before, but toss them in a little bit of olive oil after the cooking process.

Gnocchi with Ragu

We enjoyed our gnocchi with Nonna’s famous ragu di carne. She taught me how to make her ragu sauce, but I am still trying to perfect it. It’s a work in progress. Once I get it down, it might just happen to appear on Bengusto.com.

Gnocchi with Ragu

Nonna and Nonno enjoy their gnocchi.

Nonna and Nonno enjoy their gnocchi.

I think that smile means it's pretty good.

I think that smile means it’s pretty good.

Gnocchi is really one of the greatest pleasures of the world. I hope we shall always have grandmothers around for recipes and memories like this.

Per Nonna Italia 

View from Riviera

98 responses on “Nonna Italia’s Potato Gnocchi

  1. OH YUM! I didn’t think it would ever be possible for anyone besides Nonna Italia to make these. And I am still not sure! But maybe I can get Steph to try it. But it will never be as good as Nonna Italia’s.

    • Not true! It can be as good as Nonna’s with just a little passion and creativity. It’s really fun! It’s an art, like molding clay. It’s really not too difficult either.
      -Ben

  2. I have had this gnocchi made by you and your nonna (I think Morgan stood and watched). Also one of my best memories…just being there and having fantastic times with your lovely family. All the best to you, Ben.

  3. Ben, talking about Nonna’s gnocchi I can eat now!!!…and Nonna Italia is here and she said:”…darling I remember you was so little the first time we made gnocchi and you were so good with the fork!! I’m so proud of you and thank you so much to remember me in your BenGusto, me and nonno carlo love you so much

    • Ciao Zia! Siete fortunati che potete mangiare cosi bene ogni giorno. Il tradizione di fare gnocchi con la Nonna é molto importante per me. Io e Alex abbiamo fatto sempre bene con la forchetta! Un bacio a tutti!
      -Ben

  4. Ben…I really enjoyed your story, the pictures, the recipe and the directions! I am already hungry ! 🙂 I can’t wait till the weekend to try it. Thanks, Mrs. Yobs, FACS-LHMS

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