Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Maple Cinnamon Sage Brown Butter

I had to get to this last Thanksgiving side dish today- Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Maple Cinnamon Sage Brown Butter.
I never watch tv, especially during the day. For some odd reason, one day my kids wanted to watch something and I flipped by the Food Network. I saw that Giada was making some side dishes for Thanksgiving and we decided to watch for a little bit.
I saw her whip up this gnocchi and I was astonished because it really seemed like it took her a few minutes to get it ready. I realize that since it was tv, they edited out some of the steps, but it really didn't take long.
My kids told me they wanted me to make this gnocchi.

I had some sweet potato puree left from when I roasted sweet potatoes awhile ago and I had recently defrosted it for the Candied Sweet Potato Cupcakes. I didn't use all of the sweet potato puree for the cupcakes and I thought this would be a great way to use up the sweet potato puree I had left.
It really wasn't too difficult to mix the gnocchi together. You just add whole milk ricotta, cinnamon, salt and pepper to the sweet potato puree. Then you add flour, a little bit at a time, until you get the right consistency. That was the hardest part for me, is knowing when the gnocchi dough was the ready. I didn't want to add too much flour, but also didn't want to add too little. I am sure this is something you learn the more you make gnocchi.
The next step is dividing the dough and rolling it out into a long, snake-like rope. When I saw Giada do this, I couldn't help but think about play-doh. Then you have to shape the gnocchi.
My first batch were too big and wide, they tasted good, but looked horrible.
The second batch were the right size, but I cooked them too long, so they were mushy.
Finally, on the third batch I got it right. The shape was ok- not too big and not too small, and I cooked them just the right amount of time.
So, my analysis is, that they more you make gnocchi, the easier it becomes.

The sauce, is butter, which you brown and then you add whole sage leaves, cinnamon and pure maple syrup.

I wasn't really expecting my kids to like this dish. I made it purely out of curiousity for myself, well, and partly because my kids said they wanted me to make it, but they say that about almost everything.
I guess since my kids saw the tv episode where Giada made this, they were very interested in trying it.
They all loved it. I barely even got to have any, because they were scarfing it down.
I think this would be a really good way to serve sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving, with a twist.
Fairly quick and delicious.

Recipe for Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Maple Cinnamon Sage Brown Butter

7 comments:

Barbara Bakes said...

These look so delicious! What a great way to change up sweet potatoes for the holidays!

Unknown said...

Your gnocchi look awesome! I finally cooked mine up last night and really enjoyed them. Here's the problem - since I've never had gnocchi before, I didn't have any basis for comparison on the texture so I'm not sure I got it right. I guess they were tasty and that's all that matters at the end of the day...

Bella Baker said...

this dish really looks outstanding! I'm so glad everyone loved it and it tasted as great as it looks!!

Delicious Dishings said...

Your gnocchi look beautiful! I've tried to make it twice now, and Im still working out the kinks. This recipe sounds fabulous. I've had store-bought sweet potato or pumpkin ravioli and made a sage brown butter to go with it, but adding maple and cinnamon flavor would take it to a whole new level!

Kasha said...

So clever and cute! Thanks for the fun idea!
Kasha
http://grubandstuff.blogspot.com

Melpy said...

I think this is the recipe we used (I think at Easter) for a side dish with our lamb. The gnocchi were so easy and delicious. Sure beats eating marshmallows at dinner. I highly recommend making this especially since oven space on Thanksgiving is so precious. Yours look awesome by the way!

Kayte said...

When you were talking about these, I was not all that interested, but now that I see them, I am plenty interested! These are so pretty and they sound delicious! Have to go there soon with these.