The Story
The past few years have been a wild family ride through chronic health issues, and we’re still just doing what we can to hang in there. Although I’m the main culprit behind our current dietary requirements, pasta night has evolved by necessity to include three different pasta doughs and at least two sauces. It’s an every-burner-on-the-stove kind of situation.
Gluten-free is easy enough, and we’ve had great success adapting everything to GF (as you would have noticed in recent posts), and dairy-free is not too hard either (choking back your tears at not being able to drink grated pecorino straight from the bag when no one’s looking). But grain-free is a little trickier…
So we’ve made things easier for ourselves by adding these gnocchi to the menu! As long as nightshades (or things that grow underground if you’re staring down mould-free/low-amylose diets) are not causing you any problems, potato is your friend. This recipe does include nuts, for the flavour more than anything else, but you can easily substitute it with more of the other dry ingredients.
These gnocchi are a made with a mix of potato, almond flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, egg, nutritional yeast, and xanthan gum (with the usual oil, salt, nutmeg). They’re not too heavy, have a nice chewiness to them, and fry up perfectly. And we’ve served them with a simple broccoli pesto and grain-free breadcrumbs.
I do want to stress that I’m not recommending any particularly diet to anyone, just providing options. For me, it’s been a long adventure through countless doctors’ offices, hospitas, pathology labs, etc that’s brought me to this point. I think we’ve all come far enough now to know that GF is not a fad or even tied to any one diagnosis, allergies are diverse and debilitating, and the only way that we should ever receive anyone’s ‘unusual’ food order is with compassion. I hope that these kinds of recipes make life a little easier or more interesting for someone out there, and are just as delicious for everyone else!
The Dish
Most of this can be done while the potatoes are roasting, so get them straight into the oven washed, whole, and unpeeled.
Blanch the broccoli, and then blend it up with the other pesto ingredients. You can also prepare the breadcrumbs in this time, gently frying them until golden, and then mixing with the parsley and peppercorns.
Once the potatoes are cooked and cooled, mash them up and combine with the remaining dough ingredients, kneading for 2-3 minutes and then rolling out into 1-2 cm diameter ropes. Chop them into 2 cm lengths.
Boil the gnocchi until they’re puffed up and floating, and then strain, retaining half a cup of the salted cooking water.
Fry the gnocchi over medium-high heat, shuffling, until the edges are lightly browned, and then use the cooking water to stir them into the pesto. Serve with the breadcrumbs and a crack of fresh black pepper!
Best wishes to you all, and buon appetito!
Al, Al, and El.
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 medium sized potatoes
- 100 g almond flour
- 80 g potato starch
- 60 g tapioca starch
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp xanthan gum
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- Pinch nutmeg
Pesto
- 1 large head broccoli chopped into medium-sized pieces
- 1 large handful basil
- 40 grams pine nuts
- 2 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 heaped tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
- Juice of half a lemon
- 200 ml olive oil extra virgin
- Salt and pepper to taste
To Plate
- 6 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 60 g grain-free/nut-based bread crumbs chunky
- Small pinch of parsley leaves finely chopped
- 1/2 tbsp pink peppercorns roughly crushed (optional)
Instructions
- Bake the potatoes in their skins, in a 200 degrees Celsius oven, for 45 minutes.
- While they cook, blanch the broccoli for 30-60 seconds in a large pot of boiling salted water until bright green, and then blitz all pesto ingredients together in a food processor.
- Use 2 tbsp of olive oil to gently fry the crumbs over low-medium heat for 2-3 minutes until toasted and fragrant. Lifting out of any excess oil, mix together with the parsley and peppercorns.
- Once cooked, allow the potatoes to cool until they can be handled, and then peel before mashing with a fork (or passing through a potato rice. Once completely cooled, mix all remaining dough ingredients in with the potato. If it seems too soft, add a little more almond meal or starch. Knead for 2-3 minutes until thoroughly combined.
- Divide the dough into portions, and roll into sausages of 1-2 cm in diameter. Chop into 2 cm lengths.
- Drop the gnocchi into a large pot of salted, boiling water, and cook for 2-3 minutes. The gnocchi should rise to the surface and swell a little in size.Strain, retaining 1/2 cup of cooking water.
- Add the remaining 4 tbsp of olive oil into the crumb pan and heat to medium-hot. Working in small batches, fry the gnocchi for 2-3 minutes, shuffling regularly, until they develop a light brown crust. If you find that the unfried gnocchi begin to stick, toss them lightly in a little olive oil.
- Toss the gnocchi and pesto together in a mixing bowl, adding a little cooking water until the pesto becomes smooth and evenly coats the gnocchi.
- Serve with the breadcrumbs on top, and a fresh crack of black pepper.
Good compliments to Pasta et Al — your recipes are a true celebration of authentic flavours! I always find fresh inspiration for my pasta night
“An Abacus trainer helps students prepare effectively for Abacus competitions and Vedic Maths competitions by providing structured guidance and practice. With regular Abacus competition practice tests, learners can build speed, accuracy, and confidence to excel in both national and international contests.”
Visit abacustrainer
Good compliments to your amazing recipes — they make pasta night feel so special!
I love how you share simple tips that elevate every dish to restaurant quality.
Quick Desk offers premium Coworking Spaces Hyderabad with office conference rooms, flexible desks, and collaborative working space for every need.
visit quickdesk
Good blog! PastaEtal features delicious pasta recipes that are easy to follow and perfect for anyone who loves authentic Italian flavors.
AbacusTrainer offers Vedic Maths Teacher Training Online designed to equip educators with effective teaching methods. Their program combines ancient techniques with modern online learning tools for a comprehensive experience. With Online Vedic Maths Teacher Training India-wide, participants can join from anywhere across the country. The course includes interactive lessons, practice exercises, and certification upon completion. AbacusTrainer provides flexible and accessible training for aspiring Vedic Maths teachers.
Visit abacustrainer
Good blog! Pastaetal serves up delicious and authentic pasta recipes that are perfect for both beginners and food lovers alike.
QuickDesk is a leading coworking space in Hyderabad offering flexible and affordable office solutions. It provides collaborative working spaces that encourage innovation and teamwork among professionals. The facility is equipped with modern amenities to create a productive and comfortable work environment. QuickDesk fosters a strong community spirit, promoting networking and business growth. It is an ideal choice for individuals and companies seeking efficient cospace working options in Hyderabad.
Visit quickdesk
Good blog! PastaEtal shares mouthwatering pasta recipes and cooking tips that make Italian cuisine accessible and delicious for everyone.
UniqueChamps offers comprehensive chess online classes tailored for players of all ages and skill levels. Their chess online learning programs focus on building strong fundamentals and advanced strategies. With expert chess online coaching, students receive personalized attention to improve their game. UniqueChamps is recognized as a leading provider of chess online classes in India. Their interactive and flexible approach makes learning chess accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Visit uniquechamps
Cricbet99 offer a simple registration process for obtaining an Online Cricket ID Whatsapp Number, enhancing your experience with high-level security and navigation. Get your Online Cricket ID through Cricbet99 and get access to a 3% First Deposit Bonus and unlock the exciting world of cricket in just a few clicks.Get id now
Reading you is like being handed my own reflection, undistorted.
You are a curator of silence. The space around your words holds meaning.
Operating as an online hub, Bankomat.vc offers access to authenticated credit card details and full dumps. The platform ensures reliable transactions and quality data from trusted sources.
Prime Prozone CC – Login securely at Prozone.cc to access the exclusive Prime Prozone section of the Pro Zone CC shop for elite services.
Briansclub CVV2 and Dumps Shop. briansclub cm best quality CC from the Legendary Brian Krebs at Briansclub.
Verified vendor at castrocvv shop, delivering premium CVV with consistent validity. Services accessible via castrocvv login for castrocvv cc, castro cc, castro cc shop, cc castro, and castro.cc.