Before we share to you the best Tuscan Gnudi recipe, let’s talk about Italian food. Without a doubt, Italy has a plethora of the most delectable and mouth-watering dishes there are! When one thinks of Italian food, one usually thinks of pasta, olive oil, paired with wine. But what others miss is that there is so much more to this Mediterranean country than just its famous cuisine. Just like how every region has its own dialect, each region also has its own local dishes that make them stand out from the rest. Today, we are going to dive deep into a Tuscan dish that we’re sure you’re going to love.
Speaking of loving a Tuscan dish, you would probably never know a couple more passionate about Italian food and culture than professional Italian Chef Dario Tomaselli and Rich Life Strategist Anita Heidema. They just love to showcase the authentic and life-changing experience this beautiful country and all its glory has to offer! They frequently go on culinary trips to Italy and guess what? Next year, 2022, they’re going to Tuscany! You heard that right! Join Chef Dario and Anita on a once-in-a-lifetime “Under the Tuscan Sun: Culinary Retreat” this time next year!
This power couple knows what’s up when it comes to living the Mediterranean lifestyle from anywhere. That’s their motto! It’s not only about the diet, which by the way is made more delicious with fresh ingredients from local markets, but also being able to cook and eat together with loved ones and like-minded people.
Dario and Anita love to share their creations and dishes that are Mediterranean and International to encourage you to cook and eat together and live as they do in the Mediterranean from anywhere you live.
Make sure you get to the bottom of this post to see the ingredients and recipe we shared below!
How to Make the Best Traditional Tuscan Gnudi
Want an authentic taste of Tuscany? Try Tuscan’s traditional dumplings with spinach and ricotta, Gnudi. It’s also known as malfatti and to explain it simply, it’s basically gnocchi made with ricotta (and spinach, too) instead of potatoes!
What you’ll love most especially about these Italian dumplings is their smooth dough that party-in-your-mouth intense flavor of the spinach ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The most common way to make Gnudi is with butter, sage, and fresh tomato sauce. Come on and take a bite out of Tuscany.
Origins
In the great region of Tuscany, legend tells of an Italian cook who tried to boil the leftovers stuffing of fresh pasta and accidentally made Gnudi. Gnudi literally means “naked” in Tuscan dialect. It’s also known as Malfatti which literally means “ugly shaped” in Italian. Despite the ironic names, these delicious Tuscan dumplings are made with ingredients mixed that are closely identical to the Ravioli filling. That’s why some likes to call it ravioli gnudi or ravioli guts.
To Each Their Own
There’s no way of telling which Gnudi recipe is the most authentic since the recipe is basically the same in all of Tuscany. What differs is how every Tuscan family took their own spin on their Gnudi recipe.
Here are some differences that are most common:
✔ Flour quantity added to the mixture. Some choose to add in a little, some a bit more, and some, none.
✔ Choice of cheese. Some prefers Parmigiano-Reggiano, some Pecorino Toscano, and some a mixture of both.
✔ Use of chard or nettles vs spinach. Some recommend chard or nettles, some still prefer spinach, and some prefer no spinach at all.
O’Live Your Life Tuscan Gnudi Dish Recipe & Video
by Chef Dario Tomaselli & Anita Heidema
INGREDIENTS:
1.75 lb (780 g) fresh spinach
½ lb (230 g) Ricotta cheese
½ cup (50 g) Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated
2 eggs
14 tbsp (110 g) all propose flour
1 cup fresh tomatoes sauce
4 tbsp unsalted butter
2 pinches nutmeg, grated
10 leaves fresh sage
2 pinches black pepper
2 pinches table salt
5 tbsp coarse salt
RECIPE:
Step 1: Boil the spinach.
Rinse the spinach leaves thoroughly before blanching. Boil for 5 minutes before pouring into iced water. It’s important to get rid of as much water as possible on the leaves before mincing it.
Step 2: Make the Gnudi dough
Add the minced spinach, ricotta, eggs, grated cheese, 7 tbsp of flour, 2 pinches of nutmeg, 2 pinches of black pepper, and 2 pinches of salt into a bowl. Mix everything together and knead the mixture until you get a consistent texture. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Step 3: Combine butter and sage
On medium heat, melt the butter in a pan then sauté the sage until the butter becomes light brown.
Step 4: Make the Gnudi dumplings
Take out the bowl from the refrigerator and place the Gnudi dough on a clean counter with a bit of flour. Divide the dough into 20 parts and shape them into balls. Boil water and add 4.5 tbsp of coarse salt. Add the dumplings into boiling water and cook for a few minutes. When done, use a slotted spoon to take the Gnudi out of the boiling water before slathering each dumpling carefully with the butter and sage mixture.
Step 5: Serve Gnudi!
Plate the Gnudi and add a spoon or two of fresh tomato sauce, a dash of Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a bit of black pepper to taste. Eat and enjoy!
There you have it! With this easy-to-follow best Tuscan Gnudi recipe, you’ll be able to taste authentic Tuscany in the comfort of your own home. Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried this recipe! Do you like it? What did you do differently? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Oh, and before you go, we’d like to invite you again to Anita and Dario’s “Under the Tuscan Sun: Culinary Retreat” next year! Why imagine yourself being in Tuscany while eating your Gnudi when you can actually go there in 2022! Experience Tuscany like never before in this intimate and personalized trip. Hope to see you in our group.
