Enjoying your own freshly made gnocchi is always a treat, but even more so when the olives are special treats from France. Nyons is famous for it’s olives and olive oil. This year on our fall vacation, we made a point to bring back some of the specialties from the area.

Serving Size: 2

Ingredients:

For the gnocchi

  • 2 potatoes, (about 1 1/2 pounds)
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup black olives, pitted and finely chopped

for the sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 50 g (1.8 oz) soy margarine
  • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, just the leaves

Directions:

  1. Begin by pricking the potatoes with a fork in several places.
  2. Place the potatoes in a preheated oven at 400 F, and bake for 30 – 40 minutes until done.
  3. While the potatoes are baking, pit the olives and slice into small pieces.
  4. When the potatoes are done, remove from the oven. Using a fork to hold them, remove the the skin wit a knife.
  5. Pass the potato through a ricer or chop them in very fine pieces using knives or a fork. You want fluffy dry potato.
  6. While the potato is still warm, add the flour and the olives and work the mixture to a dough. Allow the dough to rest for 15 minutes before rolling the dough out.
  7. Turn onto a floured work surface and, using your hands, roll into 2 cm thick logs. Cut logs width ways into 1 1/2 cm. pieces, pinch in the sides of each piece slightly press one side with a fork and set aside on a floured plate.
  8. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil, add gnocchi and simmer over medium heat until they float to the surface (2-3 minutes). Transfer to a tray to keep warm.
  9. Heat olive oil and soy margarine in a large frying pan, when the margarine starts to foam, add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft (2-3 minutes).
  10. Add gnocchi, gently toss until coated, scatter with parsley.
  11. We enjoyed these with a big mixed salad and a side dish of fresh steamed broccoli with a balsamic vinegar sauce.

Notes:

Baking the potato is quite important, as it helps to keep the gnocchi from being too floury and therefor not as delicate.

inspired by http://technicolorkitcheninenglish.blogspot.com/