Homemade Cacio e Pepe Gnocchi

Cherie Metcalfe

Soft, pillowy homemade gnocchi tossed through a ridiculously creamy, cheesy Cacio e Pepe sauce. Comfort food heaven, with plenty of Parmesan and a spoonful of chilli crisp on top if you’re feeling it.

Homemade Cacio e Pepe Gnocchi

Ingredients

    Homemade Gnocchi

    • 1kg Agria potatoes
    • 1 egg yolk
    • 1 teaspoon Man Grind
    • 1 ½–2 cups plain flour, plus extra for dusting

    Creamy Cacio e Pepe Sauce

    • 50g butter
    • 2 tablespoons Cacio e Pepe
    • 1 cup cream
    • ¾ cup finely grated Parmesan
    • ½ cup reserved gnocchi cooking water

    To serve

    • Extra Parmesan
    • Man Grind Flakes
    • Crispy Business

    Directions

    1. Place the potatoes, whole and unpeeled, in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil and cook for 25–35 minutes, or until completely tender when pierced with a knife.
    2. Drain the potatoes and leave until just cool enough to handle. Peel away the skins, then pass the warm potatoes through a potato ricer, or mash until completely smooth.

    3. Spread the potato over a clean bench and leave to steam for 5 minutes. This helps remove excess moisture and keeps your gnocchi light and fluffy.
    4. Add the egg yolk and Man Grind, then sprinkle over 1½ cups of flour. Gently bring everything together with your hands, adding a little more flour only if the dough is very sticky. Don’t knead it to death. You want a soft, slightly tacky dough.

    5. Divide the dough into four pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope about 2 cm thick, then cut into bite-sized pieces. Leave them as they are, or gently roll each piece over the back of a fork for those classic little grooves.
    6. Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Cook the gnocchi in batches. Once they float to the surface, cook for another 30 seconds, then lift them out with a slotted spoon. Reserve at least ½ cup of the cooking water.
    7. Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the Cacio e Pepe Seasoning and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
    8. Pour in the cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the Parmesan and stir until melted and smooth.

    9. Add the cooked gnocchi with a splash of the reserved cooking water. Toss gently for 1–2 minutes, until the gnocchi are coated in a glossy, creamy sauce. Add a little more cooking water as needed, as the sauce will thicken quickly as it sits.
    10. Spoon into bowls and finish with plenty of extra Parmesan, a sprinkle of Man Grind and a spoonful of chilli crisp.

    More articles