Potato Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce

Potato gnocchi with tomato sauce are a classic and comforting dish of Italian cuisine.

Ingredients for Gnocchi:

• 1 kg of starchy potatoes
• 300 g of type 00 flour, plus more for the work surface
• 1 egg
• Salt to taste

Ingredients for Tomato Sauce:

• 500 ml of tomato passata or peeled tomatoes
• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Fresh basil
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Preparation of Gnocchi:

1. Cook the potatoes in boiling water until they are tender, then peel them while they are still hot and mash them with a potato masher or pass them through a food mill.

2. Spread the potato puree on a floured work surface, add a pinch of salt and let it cool down a bit.

3. Add an egg to the potato puree and start to knead, incorporating the flour gradually.

4. When the dough is smooth and not sticky, cut it into pieces and form long cylinders.

5. Cut the cylinders into small pieces to shape the gnocchi, then press each piece with a fork or a gnocchi board to give the typical ridged shape.

6. Boil the gnocchi in salted water and remove them with a slotted spoon as soon as they float to the surface.

Preparation of Tomato Sauce:

1. Sauté the chopped onion and garlic in a bit of extra virgin olive oil until they turn translucent.

2. Add the tomato passata or peeled tomatoes, salt, pepper, and hand-crumbled basil.

3. Let the sauce simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes.

Combination and Service:

1. Once the gnocchi are cooked, add the tomato sauce to the pan along with them and mix gently.

2. Serve the potato gnocchi with tomato sauce with a generous sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese.

Potato gnocchi with tomato sauce can be accompanied by a good fresh salad for a complete and balanced meal. Enjoy your meal!