Last night I made pan-fried potato gnocchi with roast cauliflower, a cheese sauce, parsnip chips, leek, pickled thyme leaves and a parmesan crisp. It was great!
Serves 6
Place flattened circles of grated parmesan cheese on a silicon mat or baking paper and cook at 160C until melted and just starting to brown. You’ll need to keep an eye on them. They will take 5 to 8 mins. Allow to cool and break into shards.
Peel strips from the outside of two parsnips. Cook in the oven, skin side down with a little olive oil at 180C until crisp (maybe 10 mins – but keep an eye on them).
Cut a piece of leek about 4 cm long and then cut lengthways into thin strips. Brush with a small amount of olive oil and char these under a hot grill.
Put 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (preferably white) in a saucepan and add 1/8 tsp sugar. Heat until sugar is melted. Add a few sprigs of thyme or lemon thyme and allow to cool. Remove the thyme and remove leaves from stalks.
Gnocchi
1 kg desiree potoatoes
200g 00 flour
1 egg
70g parmesan cheese
Sea salt
Cracked black pepper
Steam potatoes with skin on. Peel them while still warm and but through a potato ricer.
Add flour, whisked egg, cheese, salt and pepper.
Mix lightly until barely combined.
Roll out into long cylinders with extra flour as needed,
Cut cylinders into pieces and roll into small balls.
Flatten the balls with the back of a fork or use a ridged gnocchi rolling board.
Cut cauliflower into small florets. Combine with some olive oil and sea salt. Cook on baking paper in the oven at 200C for 20-25 mins until just starting to brown.
Meanwhile make the cheese sauce (see below).
Cheese sauce
1/2 leek, sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed not minced
Butter
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
3/4 cup white wine
1 cup cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup other cheese of choice – cheddar, gruyere, goat curd
1 egg yolk
Saute the leek and garlic gently in some butter until soft. Add the wine and black peppercorns and simmer until reduced by half.
Strain the mixture and return to pan. Add the cream and heat until barely simmering.
Add the cheese and stir until it melts and combines.
Season with salt and pepper as required.
If it is a bit runny, allow to cool slightly and gradually pour in the egg yolk, whisking to combine.
Cook gnocchi in barely boiling water until they rise to the surface.
Brown the gnocchi in a frypan with a mixture of butter and olive oil.
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