Butternut squash gnocchi with brown butter sage and walnuts
These butternut squash gnocchi are my kind of comfort food--light but hearty, sweet gnocchi tossed in a quick brown butter sauce topped with herby sage, nutty walnuts, and a generous shaving of Parmesan cheese.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds butternut squash (1 cup butternut squash puree)
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour and extra for rolling
- 1 medium egg
- 1 medium egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ cup semolina flour for gnocchi pans
Brown butter sauce
- 1 stick of unsalted butter
- ¼ cup sage leaves
- ¼ cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Extra Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cut squash lengthwise in half; discard seeds. Place squash halves, cut side up, on baking sheet and brush with oil.
- Roast until squash is very tender when pierced with skewer and browned in spots, about 1 hour.
- Let it cool slightly. Scoop flesh from the squash into a food processor and puree until smooth.
- Transfer the puree to a medium nonstick saucepan and stir constantly over medium heat until juices evaporate and puree thickens, about 15 minutes. When it’s done the squash’s consistency should resemble loose dough and thick enough to cling to an upended spoon.
- Measure 1 cup (packed) squash puree and let it cool. Reserve the remaining squash for another use.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine squash, flour, Parmesan, egg, egg yolk, nutmeg, and salt and mix with a spoon until the dough comes together. If the dough is very sticky, add more flour by one tablespoonful.
- Turn the dough out onto floured surface; knead gently but briefly just until smooth. Divide dough into 8 equal pieces, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to firm up.
- Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment and sprinkle lightly with semolina flour.
- Working with 1 dough piece at a time, roll dough out on floured surface to about ½-inch-thick rope. Cut rope crosswise into ¾-inch pieces.
- Working with 1 piece at a time, roll gnocchi along a gnocchi board.
- Transfer gnocchi to baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and chill at least 1 hour in refrigerator.
- When ready to cook, bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
- Working in 4 batches, drop gnocchi in the pot and let them cook for 3-5 minutes until they float to the surface or become springy to touch.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer gnocchi to a large plate.
- Cook butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat just until golden, stirring often, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add sage and cook for 2 minutes until crips. Add gnocchi and cook until heated through and coated with butter, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer gnocchi to warmed plates. Serve with additional Parmesan, toasted walnuts, and garnish with crispy sage.
Notes
- Extra squash puree can be frozen up to a month.
- Uncooked gnocchi can be frozen up to a month.