Gnocchi (NYOH-kee, NOH-kee), as we know them, are plump little lumps of pasta made mostly of potato.
In early writings, gnocco (singular for gnocchi) is sometimes replaced by maccherone, a generic term for pasta. The Encyclopedia of Pasta, by Oliver Zanini De Vita tells us that gnocchi is primal pasta, the ancestor of all noodles.
In some parts of Italy, gnocchi was made of fine durum wheat. Elsewhere, it was chestnut, rye, rice or barley flour. When poverty struck, gnocchi might mean leftovers bound in breadcrumbs. We do know that potatoes came very late to the game and were slow to gain a following. An early recipe for potato gnocchi, circa 1834, calls for just one part potato to three parts flour. It takes another century for modern gnocchi to emerge- wherein potato is the main ingredient, with only enough flour to bind it into workable dough.
Commercial gnocchi is readily available, but it’s worth the effort to make your own. Essentially, you mix cooked, riced potatoes with egg, and then knead in some flour. There’s no special equipment required, the familiar grooved pattern is made with a table fork. Gnocchi’s delicate flavor pairs well with robust sauces, from tomato to pesto to pungent gorgonzola.
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