The Flying Dutchman


  Malfatti green gnocchi — Malfatti, gnocchi verdi

 


"Malfatto" means badly made. Some substitute the Ricotta, which must be very fresh, with mascarpone.


 300 g plain flour
 250 g Ricotta cheese
 600 g fresh spinach (or 300 g deep frozen spinach)
 100 g grated Parmesan cheese
 3 eggs
 150 g butter
 1/2 onion
 nutmeg
 flour
 salt and pepper

Malfatti green gnocchi


If fresh, clean and wash the spinach several times. Drain and steam for a few minutes in a saucepan with a tight fitting lid and no water, strain and cool. Squeeze out all the water and chop finely.
Fry the spinach in a pan with some butter and an onion cut into half. Cool and remove the onion. When they are cool work with the Ricotta, the plain flour and the spinach in a bowl adding half the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 2 whole eggs and one yolk, and a grating of nutmeg. Roll the mixture into many small balls. Pass each one in flour. Bring water to the boil in a large saucepan and put the malfatti in. When they come to the surface, in a few minutes, they are ready. Remove them from the water with a skimmer, put them in a heat resistant serving dish and pour melted butter on the top, sprinkle with the rest of the grated Parmesan cheese, and grill in the oven for a few minutes to form a nice crust.
Alternatively you can place them in the dish with tomato sauce and grill for a few minutes.

    Updated 08 November, 2007 - webmaster Dirk Steine