Gnocchi with Fresh Tomatoes, Green Olives, and Smoked Mozzarella

Recipe by: Mario Batali | from Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes to Cook at Home

Cookstr

Course: Hot Appetizer, Main Course

Total Time: Under 2 Hours

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Inexpensive

gnocchi-with-fresh-tomatoes-green-olives-and-smoked-mozzarella

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

These are the gnocchi of my childhood, but we almost always ate them with an oxtail ragu (we lived to chew on the little “hubcap” bones on the sides of the pinwheels of the oxtail bones). This is a much quicker and lighter recipe, one that your friends will want to eat. My friends used to think we were the odd ones on the block, they who ate frozen dinners in front of the TV.

Yield: 4 servings as a main course, 8 servings as an appetizer

INGREDIENTS

1 pound plum tomatoes
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
½ cup green olives, such as picholine, pitted
1 basic gnocchi

4 ounces smoked fresh mozzarella, cut into ¼-inch cubes
2 tablespoons fresh marjoram leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot, and add 2 tablespoons salt.

2. Meanwhile, core the tomatoes and chop them into ¼-inch cubes, reserving all the juices.

3. In a 10- to 12-inch sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until smoking. Add the garlic and cook until light golden brown, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and their juices and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the olives and remove from the heat.

4. Drop the gnocchi into the boiling water and cook until they float to the surface, about 3 minutes. Drain.

5. Carefully add the gnocchi to the pan with the tomato mixture. Return to the heat and toss gently until bubbling. Add the mozzarella and marjoram and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a warmed serving dish, and serve immediately.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Nutritional information is based on 8 servings, includes 1/2 teaspoon of added salt, and does not include Gnocchi. For nutritional information on Gnocchi, please follow the link above.

Calories 157kcal (8%)

Calcium 92mg (9%)

Vitamin C 8mg (13%)

Vitamin A 52mcg RAE (2%)

Potassium 157mg

Magnesium 12mg

Protein 4g

Sugar 2g

Fiber 1g

Total Carbohydrate 3g

Cholesterol 11mg (4%)

Sodium 374mg (16%)