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Pumpkin Gnocchi

Pumpkin gnocchi made with extra-dry pumpkin puree and ricotta for tender, golden pillows that pan-sear nicely. Boiled gnocchi are tossed in brown butter with crispy sage, toasted walnuts, and a generous parmesan finish.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 540

Ingredients
  

For pumpkin gnocchi
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree Blotted extremely dry.
  • 1 cup ricotta Drained extremely dry.
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup parmesan Finely grated.
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • 1.25 cup all-purpose flour Start with less and add as needed to form a soft, slightly sticky dough (about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 cups).
For brown butter sauce
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 10 fresh sage leaves
  • 3 tbsp toasted walnuts
  • 1 Extra parmesan for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Make the pumpkin gnocchi dough
  1. Blot the pumpkin puree and ricotta extremely dry, then combine them with the egg, parmesan, salt, nutmeg, and enough all-purpose flour to form a soft, slightly sticky dough. Mix until you no longer see dry flour, adding flour gradually as needed.
  2. Roll the dough into ropes and cut into 1-inch pillows, then press each piece with a fork for texture. Arrange the gnocchi in a single layer as you work so they don’t stick.
Boil, then crisp the sage and finish with brown butter
  1. Boil the gnocchi in well-salted water until they float, 2-3 minutes, then drain and let excess water steam off briefly. Keep the water at a steady simmer to prevent mushy texture.
  2. Brown the butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat, then add sage leaves and cook until crispy. Watch the butter closely until it turns nutty brown, about 4-6 minutes total.
  3. Toss the boiled gnocchi in the brown butter until lightly coated, then top with crispy sage, toasted walnuts, and extra parmesan for serving. Finish by dusting parmesan over the entire surface before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: blot the pumpkin puree and drained ricotta extremely dry—this keeps the dough from turning gummy and helps the gnocchi hold their shape. Store cooked leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days; rewarm gently in a skillet to keep them from softening too much. Freezing: freeze uncooked cut gnocchi on a tray until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag; cook from frozen by boiling directly, adding a minute or two. For a lighter option, use part-skim ricotta while keeping the drying step the same.