Rice Gnocchi

Rice gnocchi, also known as “Shanghai gnocchi” or “Chinese rice gnocchi”, are a typical dish of Asian cuisine. I present you with a basic recipe, but of course we can add an Italian touch with a suggestion on how to serve them. Here are the ingredients and the procedure to prepare rice gnocchi.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rice flour
• 2 cups of water
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Preparation

1. Bring the water with salt to a boil in a pot.
2. Slowly add the rice flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to avoid the formation of lumps.
3. Continue to cook and stir over low heat until the mixture begins to detach from the sides of the pot forming a ball.
4. Remove the dough from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes, until it is cool enough to be handled.
5. Wet your hands with cold water and start taking small portions of dough, rolling them into small gnocchi of the desired size.
6. Bring another pot full of salted water to a boil and cook the gnocchi until they rise to the surface, a sign that they are ready.
7. Drain them with a slotted spoon and quickly refresh them in cold water to stop the cooking.

To add an Italian touch, you could season these gnocchi with a fresh tomato and basil sauce or a simple butter and sage sauce.

Trivia

In Italy, gnocchi are generally made with potato, but in many Asian cuisines rice is the base of many dishes, including gnocchi. This version of rice gnocchi is very versatile and can be served both in hot dishes with different sauces, and cold in salads or as part of more elaborate preparations.