Yes, you are reading that right. In this post, I’ll show you how to make a really easy and quick plantain gnocchi. It’s soft, slightly sweet, and incredibly delicious.
What is gnocchi?
Before we get into the recipe, let’s talk about what a gnocchi is and where it comes from. There are numerous articles throughout the web that dive into the history of gnocchi. Some of the references in this post can be found from these links (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3). Traditionally, gnocchi is made from flour, salt, potatoes and eggs. Many people seek the origin of gnocchi in Italy, but gnocchi and potato “dumplings” are everywhere in Europe. I also think of Jamaican peas stew dumplings. Not relevant, but with texture similarities. There are some speculations about gnocchi (derived from the word noccha), which means knuckle.
Many have pointed out the origin of gnocchi as far as the Roman Empire. In the Roman Empire, gnocchi was made from flour and eggs. Gnocchi’s first recipe was written by Bartolomeo Scappi during the Renaissance using flour, bread crumbs and water. Over time, recipes have evolved to make potatoes popular in Europe in the 19th century, offering the beloved recipes we know today. They are mainly related to Northern Italy, where potatoes are commonly cultivated. Looking at the history of gnocchi, recipes have evolved along with the evolution of food culture, and it is still based on the spirit of getting to know gnocchi.
Why add plantain to gnocchi?
Search the internet for squash and sweet potato gnocchi recipes. So plantains aren’t really exaggerated. This is a recipe that has been on and off repeatedly since 2020. I’m a sucker with a sweet and tasty meal combo — a little sweet gnocchi and a tasty sauce are heavenly matches. Plantain gnocchi presents this perfect match. Apart from the potato-like flavor, plantain is starchy and serves as an excellent alternative to potatoes. The best plantain for this recipe is one that is yellow and has some black spots. For more information on plantain, see my ultimate plantain guide.
Things necessary
This is a very simple recipe that requires only four ingredients: plantain, flour and salt.
- Plantain: You need a solid and ripe plantain. See the photo for the aging stage of this dish.
- Flour: Basic all-purpose flour works here
- Salt: Any salt.
- water
How to make gnocchi
Please note that these photos are not overly saturated. The ripe plantain was incredibly yellow and the gnocchi looked incredibly bright.
What do you add to gnocchi?
Gnocchi can be served in your favorite sauce, but there are several ways to make it.
material
- One big ripe plantain
- 1 cup of medium-strength flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons of water
Instructions
1. Peel the plantain and cut into 1 inch thick medallions.
2. Steam in a pan.Steaming is better than boiling because you don’t want to put extra liquid in the dough
3. Plantain should take about 5-10 minutes to cook. To make sure it is ready, it should be soft, bright yellow and the wick should be completely cooked. (If the core still looks pink, the plantain is not cooked)
4. Grind the plantain in a bowl
5. Add flour and salt to the bowl and mix well.I don’t want to overuse the fabric
6. When combining flour and plantain, slowly add water until everything is in a bowl. You may not need all the water, or you may need a little more.
7. When you have everything, cut the dough into 4 pieces and roll each part into a stick.
8. Cut the stick into 1.5 inch pieces to make a gnocchi
9. At this point, add water to the pot and bring to a boil.
10. Since the water is boiling, you can use a fork to shape the gnocchi (shown in the video)
11. After shaping the gnocchi, put it in boiling water.
12. When the gnocchi begins to float up, you are ready to go. Remove the gnocchi and set it aside.
13. Once all is boiled, serve with your favorite sauce.
