Homemade ricotta gnocchi broccoli cream sauce

Step 1

Add all the gnocchi ingredients apart from the flour in a large mixing bowl and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until thoroughly combined.

Step 2

Gradually add the flour while stopping to fold it into the ricotta mixture. Keep doing this until a soft dough forms. *See notes

Step 3

Tip: I find the amount of flour needed depends on the creaminess of the ricotta (some can be wetter than others). Keep adding the flour until the dough is soft and easy to handle without sticking to your hands.

Step 4

Dust a work surface with flour and tip the dough out from the bowl. Shape the ricotta gnocchi dough into a rough rectangle log shape and cut it in half. The dough will be quite sticky at the edges you cut so always dust the knife with flour before cutting and then lightly dust the cut edges.

Step 5

Divide each half in half again so you have 4 pieces of dough (photo 6). Carefully roll each piece of dough into a long log around 1/2 inch to 1 inch thick.

Step 6

Cut each rolled out log into gnocchi (small-medium sized) and set them aside on a flour-dusted chopping board or surface.

Step 7

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cut the thick stalk off the broccoli so you only have florets left. Add them to the boiling water for 1 minute then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside (keep the water boiling).

Step 8

Finely chop the garlic and fry it in a little olive oil in a large pan. Roughly chop the broccoli into small-medium pieces and add to the garlic.

Step 9

Fry for 30 seconds to 1 minute then add the cream, nutmeg and salt and pepper. At this point add the gnocchi to the boiling water.

Step 10

Bring the cream to a boil then add the parmesan. Keep the sauce simmering until it started to thicken then remove the gnocchi from the water with a slotted spoon and add to the sauce.

Step 11

Toss to coat in the sauce, season with more salt and pepper and serve.