A pasta with history
According to legend, a preacher who healed the sick named Pantaleón (recognized as “San Pantaleón”) He asked a very humble family to treat him to a plate of food.. These, without hesitation, immediately offered him a simple and inexpensive meal: gnocchi.
The saint, to thank the good gesture, and in the middle of a year of little work for the family, He predicted “a year of abundance and prosperity.”
The episode It happened on the 29th. and, as a result, the custom arose of eating gnocchi on that particular date in the hope of a more prosperous future.
Besides, The story includes that when the pilgrim left the house, the peasants found “golden coins” under the dishes..
This detail of the story is connected with tradition, especially in South America, to accompany the gnocchi with money so that it “brings fortune” to the diner.
Beyond the legend, and whether or not it is really lucky to eat gnocchi on the 29th of each month, It is an ideal excuse to share a moment with family or friends and eat a delicious pasta.
How to prepare potato gnocchi?
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of potatoes
- 200 g of flour (approximately)
- 1 egg
- Sal
- Pepper
- Nutmeg
- Grated cheese
Instructions:
Preparation of the potatoes:
- Wash the potatoes and cook them in their skins in boiling water until tender.
- Peel the potatoes and pass them through a masher or mash them until you obtain a smooth puree.
- Preparation of the dough:
- In a large bowl, place the mashed potatoes.
- Add the flour, egg, a pinch of salt, pepper, nutmeg to taste and grated cheese.
- Mix all the ingredients until you obtain a homogeneous and soft dough. If necessary, add more flour.
Formation of the gnocchi:
- Sprinkle flour on a clean surface.
- Take portions of dough and form thin rolls.
- Cut the rolls into small pieces and pass them through a fork to give them the classic gnocchi shape.
Cooking:
- Boil water in a large pot with salt.
- Cook the gnocchi in small batches. They will be ready when they rise to the surface.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and place them in a container with a little oil so they don’t stick.
Serve:
- Serve the gnocchi hot with your favorite sauce, whether tomato, pesto or simply melted butter and sage.