gnudi - what is it, exactly?
I'm showing my ignorance, and I should have ordered it when we were at the Spotted Pig last weekend, but I wanted a salad they had and their quail, so I didn't. Would someone please explain exactly what gnudi is? It appears to be something ravioli-ish?
I read "gnudi", my brain processed "gnocchi", and my google returned this:
"Well, the gnocchi type thing is called gnudi, and it’s beyond fantastic. Most everyone likes the concept of gnocchi, but being especially prone to overkneading and overcooking, gnocchi can be a hard, chewy downer. Gnocchi lovers often mention the word ‘pillowy’ when gushing about it, but pillowy gnocchi is a rare experience.
That explains the popularity of Spotted Pig’s gnudi. Minimize the flour and put the rolling pin or pasta machine away. Replace the potato of gnocchi with a soft pillowy cheese. The result is a delicate “cheese-gnocchi-type-thing” that is indeed pillowy and easy to make at home.
Pair the gnudi with anything you’d like – crispy pancetta or earthy mushrooms on a typical night at home, or on a special occasion(Gothamist made this dish on New Year’s Eve) brown them in tarragon infused butter and toss with chunky pieces of fresh lobster. "
I watched Lidia make this with her adorable granddaughter recently. It means "nude" and it's basically the filling of a stuffed pasta without the pasta. She made hers with ricotta, spinach and grated cheese and then she made a quick butter and sage sauce.
Here's the whole recipe: http://recipes.lidiasitaly.com/Produc...
I have been making a version of the ricotta and spinach ones for years, and i serve mine with marinara sauce. make sure you use excellent fresh ricotta- it makes a huge difference.