Home made Gnocchi with Pesto Sauce

 
Simon and I love gnocchi - we think these little balls of pasta have a texture that would be similar to heavenly clouds.  Especially when they are home made.  Simon gave this recipe (found on the ‘Video Cookbook’ app for the iPad – it’s pretty cool) a go the other night and I was amazed by the results :)

Serves 4. 
You will need:

Gnocchi:
300g Kipfler potatoes
80g plain flour
1 tablespoon butter
1 egg
1 egg yolk
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Salt
Pepper

Pesto sauce and topping:
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons pesto
80g streaky bacon or prosciutto (chopped into small strips)
160ml cream
160ml sour cream
4 tablespoons grated parmesan

Wrap the potatoes in foil and bake in the oven, or steam them until they are soft.  Peel and mash the potatoes while hot.  For an even finer result, push the potato through a sieve.

 
Add the butter, nutmeg and season and combine slightly.  Add the egg and mix to combine.  Add the yolk and mix until combined.  Lastly, add the flour and mix through.

Cut or roll the mixture into a sausage shape.  Cut into 2-3 cm long pieces and roll down a gnocchi board (a big thanks goes to Simon’s brother, for making us one!) or over a fork.

 
Poach gently in boiling water for 3 –5 minutes, then drain thoroughly (you could at this stage toss the gnocchi through your fave pasta sauce and serve).  Heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan and fry the gnocchi until lightly golden.

For the pesto sauce, heat the oil in a and fry the bacon until crisp.  In a separate pan, bring the cream to the boil.  Add the sour cream and seasoning and reduce by a third.  Add the pesto and bring to the boil.

Pour the pesto sauce into bowls, arranging the gnocchi on top.  Sprinkle the gnocchi with the bacon and parmesan.  

Pretty damn good for a first attempt huh?!