Cheat’s ricotta and cherry tomato gnocchi

This delightful ricotta gnocchi is a moderately complex dish that takes about 30 minutes to prepare. With a light, fluffy texture and a burst of fresh flavors from herbs and tomatoes, it’s perfect for a comforting meal. The recipe involves a bit of hands-on effort but rewards you with a delicious result.

This dish offers a balanced mix of nutrients, featuring protein from ricotta and eggs, healthy fats from olive oil, and vitamins from fresh herbs and tomatoes. more about nutri-score

Ingredients

• Ricotta: 360g (12oz)
• Parmesan cheese: 80g (3oz), finely grated, plus extra for serving
• Plain flour: 150g (5½oz), plus extra for dusting
• Eggs: 3 free-range, beaten
• Sea salt flakes: 1½ tsp
• Fresh basil: 1 tbsp, finely chopped
• Flatleaf parsley leaves: 1 tbsp
• Fresh thyme: 1 tbsp, finely chopped
• Lemon zest: 1 tbsp, finely grated
• Extra virgin olive oil: 60ml (2fl oz)
• Garlic cloves: 3, thinly sliced
• Mixed cherry tomatoes: 600g (1lb 5oz), halved
• Freshly ground black pepper: to taste
• Baby basil: 2 tbsp, for serving

Method

Prepare the Gnocchi Dough

• Combine ricotta, Parmesan, flour, eggs, sea salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
• Mix until a sticky dough forms.
• Add chopped herbs and lemon zest; mix again.

Shape the Gnocchi

• Dust a clean work surface with flour.
• Divide the dough into two pieces.
• Roll each piece into a log about 3cm (1¼in) wide.
• Slice each log into pieces approximately 2cm (¾in) thick.
• Place the gnocchi on a lightly floured baking tray and set aside.

Cook the Gnocchi and Sauce

• Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over high heat.
• Add sliced garlic and halved cherry tomatoes; cook for about 5 minutes until soft.
• Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil.
• Add gnocchi in two batches; cook for 2–3 minutes until they rise to the surface.
• Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon.

Toss and Serve

• Toss cooked gnocchi with the garlic-tomato mixture in the frying pan.
• Spoon into shallow bowls.
• Scatter with baby basil and extra Parmesan before serving.

Nutri-score Health Check

This dish receives a Nutri-Score of C. It features healthy ingredients like ricotta and fresh vegetables while being relatively low in saturated fats. The presence of whole foods contributes positively to its overall nutritional profile, making it a moderately healthy choice for balanced meals.

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