Sweet potato Gnudi w/ Sage Cashew Pesto
Yield- Serves 5
Ingredients
Gnudi:
2 sweet potatoes
2 egg yolks
1 cup ricotta cheese
¾ cup finely shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ cup all-purpose flour, or more as needed
½ cup semolina flour, or more as needed
½ cup unsalted butter
10 whole fresh sage leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
2 tablespoons shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or to taste
Pesto:
1 cup fresh sage
1 cup fresh Italian basil
⅓ cup roasted cashews
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, chopped
¼ teaspoon salt
⅔ cup olive oil
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
Method of prep.
Pesto:
1. Add sage, basil, cashews, parmesan cheese, garlic, and salt to blender or food processor and blend until thoroughly combined.
2. With blender or food processor on, slowly add olive oil until well combined. Add the lemon juice and blend for 10 more seconds until just combined. Add to airtight container and store in fridge.
Gnudi:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Step 2
Roast sweet potatoes in the preheated oven until tender, about 1 hour; set aside until cool enough to handle.
Step 3
Halve cooled sweet potatoes lengthwise and scoop the flesh from the peels. Discard potato peels. Mash the sweet potato flesh on a work surface and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes to cool and release moisture.
Step 4
Transfer mashed sweet potatoes to a bowl and mix with egg yolks, ricotta cheese, and 3/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Stir in salt, black pepper, and nutmeg. Add flour gradually to the sweet potato mixture until the dough holds together. Start with 1/4 cup each semolina flour and all-purpose flour, adding more as you need to.
Step 5
Scoop dough by teaspoonful and roll into marble-size balls. Sprinkle a baking sheet generously with semolina flour and place gnudi onto the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight for best texture.
Step 6
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let the water simmer. Gently drop gnudi, about 12 at a time, into the simmering water and cook until they rise to the surface, about 4 minutes. Simmer for 4 more minutes and remove with a slotted spoon. Keep boiled gnudi warm while you finish cooking remaining batches.
Step 7
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat and cook whole sage leaves until they wilt and are beginning to brown, about 2 minutes; remove leaves. Retain butter in skillet. Stir chopped sage into the hot butter and cook until the butter begins to brown and give off a nutty fragrance, about 2 minutes. Gently mix the gnudi into the butter and sage until gnudi are coated. Garnish with whole sage leaves and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to serve.
