Gnudi- Naked Ravioli

Recipe names are funny, this is a personal favorite, naked ravioli. Naked? Yes, they have no pasta dough around them, so simply the classic spinach and ricotta filling made into a gnocchi like dumpling. In other area’s they are knows as strozzapreti, “priest-chokers” but strozza-preti can also be a long handrolled spaghetti like pasta which I would call pici.

You never really know what you might get with all the regional names for dishes.

I remember one of my first jobs in Florence, waiting tables at a small trattoria in Fiesole, and Italian American family came in and ordered the Braciole. I spoke Italian with them, not English, and let them practice their Italian too. When I brought her the Tuscan braciole, she started screaming in English, saying that was not what she ordered. At that point, I asked her where she was from, most Italian-Americans know Braciole as a rolled beef dish, which is only down south near Naples region.  Here in Tuscany a braciole is a thin slice of beef, which can be prepared in various ways, when it is rolled up ( a tiny braciole) it is called an involtino. But she had not asked me what it was.

Lesson learned.

 

 

Spring has come early in Tuscany, I have wild violets blooming in the garden and the mimosa tree, which is the first sign of Spring, has been in bloom for weeks now.

Traditionally made in spring with the young tender spinach or wild greens such as borage or nettle, mixed with fresh sheep’s milk ricotta, which also has a special flavor from the sheep eating the tender greens in the fields. It is a perfect celebration of Spring.

 

 

They cook quickly , but sometimes you want to prepare ahead of time. You can precook the gnudi and they can stay hot or be reheated in the oven.

They are great with a simple flavorful tomato sauce, I place them on the tomato sauce and then add some grated parmigiano on top.

Gorgonzola sauce” melt the Gorgonzola dolce, the softer creamier one in a pan with some butter and sage. Really rich and can then be a meal. Lovely topped with chopped toasted hazelnuts.

Walnut sauce: This is a classic, white pesto. You can puree into a creamy paste of let it stay a little chunky.

Why wait for spring– try these anytime of the year and be inspired. Even plain ricotta gnudi are fun. I have also had with ricotta and bits of wild asparagus inside.

 

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I have used even more ricotta and spinach— as I love a really SOFT gnudi– you will learn to tweek, I prefer to use as little flour as I need inside– and dust on the outside.

ALWAYS do a test gnudi first, to see if it floats and doesn’t fall apart, before cooking them all!