BBC HomeExplore the BBC

10 July 2009
Accessibility help
Text only
TV and radio Directory A to Z Chat Lifestyle Food homepage

BBC Homepage
TV and radio
Food talk
Newsletter

Contact Us

Like this page?
Send it to a friend!

 
Basil gnocchi with simple tomato sauce and wild rocket potato
Silvana Franco
by Silvana Franco
from The Hi Lo Cookbook

Serves 4

Preparation time less than 30 mins

Cooking time 10 to 30 mins

Vegetarian Quick Recipe


Home-made gnocchi are truly delicious and much easier to prepare than you might imagine. Shop-bought, vacuum-packed ones are fine to serve with a simple sauce like this if you're short of time, but they won't match up in terms of flavour or texture.

Ingredients
400g/14oz can chopped tomatoes
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 sprig rosemary or thyme, or a couple of bay leaves
pinch of crushed chillies (optional)
60g/2¼oz packet wild rocket
For the gnocchi
500g/1lb 2oz waxy potatoes such as red skins or new potatoes, peeled and diced
15g/½oz fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
200g/7oz plain flour
salt and freshly ground black pepper


Method
1. Begin by making the sauce. Place the tomatoes in a small pan, then half fill the can with water and add that to the pan. Stir in the shallot, garlic, herbs, chillies and salt and black pepper. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for at least an hour until thickened and dark red.
2. Meanwhile, to make the gnocchi, boil the potatoes for 10-15 minutes until tender then drain.
3. Mash them well - this bit is important because lumps will be noticeable in the gnocchi, so use a potato ricer if you have one, or mash the potatoes thoroughly to as smooth a texture as possible.
4. Sprinkle over the basil, plenty of salt and black pepper and the flour. Using a wooden spoon or your hands, bring together to make a firm dough.
5. Knead the dough gently for a couple of minutes then roll out into sausages about 1cm (0.5in) thick. Cut the sausages into pieces 2.5cm(1in) long.
6. Gently cook the gnocchi in a pan of simmering water for a minute or two until they rise to the surface. Scoop them out as they rise, toss with the tomato sauce and rocket leaves and serve.


 Show me more potato recipes
 Show me more Silvana Franco recipes


Find out more about these ingredients and techniques:
Basil

Search by up to three ingredients, or by recipe title:
Find a programme recipe:
Find recipes by chef:
healthier option    quick recipes    vegetarian 
  Advanced search
Help
how to use our recipe search
Programmes
Catch up with top celebrity chefs on TV and Radio
Chefs
Find out about your favourite chefs and try their recipes
In season
See what's in season this month
Glossary
Get to grips with the language of food in the glossary
Converter
Weights and measures converter
Messageboard
Chat with fellow foodies



About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy