gnocchi
Gnocchi are small, soft dumplings typically made from a mixture of potato, flour, and egg. They resemble little pillows or thick, ridged shells that have a chewy, tender texture and are traditionally served in Italian cuisine with various sauces like pesto, marinara, or brown butter and sage. The word is plural in Italian, though often treated as a singular mass noun in English menus. When ordering or cooking, keep in mind that they are denser than pasta, so they are usually eaten in smaller portions; they are considered "done" as soon as they float to the surface of boiling water.
In conversation
Choosing dinner
Do you feel like pasta tonight?
Do you feel like pasta tonight?
How about gnocchi instead? I'm craving something really comforting.
How about gnocchi instead? I'm craving something really comforting.
Gnocchi is often suggested as a 'comfort food' alternative to standard pasta.
Examples
I ordered the gnocchi with tomato sauce.
I ordered the gnocchi with tomato sauce.
Making homemade gnocchi takes patience to get the texture just right.
Making homemade gnocchi takes patience to get the texture just right.
The chef pan-seared the gnocchi until they were golden and crispy on the outside.
The chef pan-seared the gnocchi until they were golden and crispy on the outside.
