Pumpkin Gnocchi with Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce, Toasted Hazelnuts and Fried Sage
INGREDIENTS
- Servings: 6-8 Servings
- 1 cup wine — for the cook
- 2 cups of pumpkin puree (made from a roasted pumpkin, pureed)
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg + fresh grated for garnish
- 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese + some for garnish
- 2-3 cup flour plus more for rolling out
- Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce
- 1 cup wine — for the cook
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon dried sage leaves
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Gruyere cheese
- Salt and Pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped Hazelnuts, toasted + a drizzle of Hazelnut Oil
- 6-8 large, fresh Sage leaves, fried
- Fried Sage Leaves
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- A handful of sage Leaves
- Salt
DIRECTIONS
- Combine the pumpkin puree and egg. Add the salt, spices, cheese and 1 cup of the flour. Mix until combined and a soft dough forms, adding more flour 1/2 cup at a time until incorporated. Dough will be sticky and very soft. Turn onto a floured surface and knead, adding in more flour as needed until you can work with it. Divide into 4 pieces and roll into long logs about a 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick. Cut into 1/2 inch pieces and press with a fork or (gnocchi board) to give ridges.
- Gently drop into boiling, salted water, in small batches (so they don’t stick together). Cook until they float to the surface, about 2-3 minutes, then transfer to plate or tray and toss with a little olive oil. Repeat with remaining gnocchi.
- (To freeze, place gnocchis on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze, then put into Ziploc baggies and freeze for later use.)
- Pumpkin Alfredo
- Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute or so. Add the cream, pumpkin puree, and spices, stirring to combine.
- Add the cheeses and reduce heat and simmer until cheeses melt and sauce thickens. Add Salt and Pepper to taste and toss in gnocchis to re-warm.
- Toasted Hazelnuts
- Coarsely chop hazelnuts, toast in a small skillet until lightly browned and fragrant.
- Fried Sage Leaves
- Heat oil in a small skillet until hot, add leaves and fry until crisp, about 10-20 seconds. Drain on a paper towel and lightly salt.
- To serve: Transfer to individual bowls or one large pasta bowl and top with shaved Parmesan. Garnish with toasted hazelnuts, freshly grated nutmeg, fried sage leaves, and a drizzle of hazelnut oil.
RECIPE BACKSTORY
From the Sauce du Jour Kitchen
For the Winter Squash Cooking Class - 108
Funky, fun and full of flavor! This dish is a completely different take on gnocchi and Alfredo and it's perfect to try in the fall when pumpkins are plentiful.
The pumpkin makes for a softer gnocchi so it requires tender handling so that you don't incorporate too much flour. The pumpkin Alfredo is a great variation on the traditional and the spices warm the tummy up. It tastes like Autumn!
(Photo: torantocooking.ca