Gnudi with Parmesan & Sage

In a bowl, beat together the egg yolks, ricotta and Parmesan, and season with nutmeg and plenty of salt. Because the gnudi can take only minimal handling, the next part of the process takes some care.

Pour the semolina into a baking tray to make a faux “beach” of semolina, say, a quarter of an inch or so in depth. Take large teaspoons of the ricotta mix, and using a second teaspoon to push the soft mixture off the first spoon, let these blobs drop onto the “beach”.

Do about four drops, and then shake the baking tray so the balls get a little coat of semolina. Then pick them up and try to roll them into “balls” by coating in more semolina.

Do this quickly and gently, then drop them back down on to the beach and start the process with some new ones.

Continue this process until the mixture is used up (it should make up to 12 balls). Then give the baking tray a good shake, so the gnudi get a final decent covering of semolina without man-handling them. Store in the fridge for a few hours, uncovered, which dries them out. You can easily leave them for a day or two.

Just before cooking, roll them in the semolina once more. To cook, you will need two pans. In one frying pan, gently heat the butter and garlic and fry the sage leaves in it for a minute or two. Season well with salt and pepper and set aside. You can do this in advance and then warm up at the last minute. Fill the other pan with boiling water. Reduce to a bare simmer and gently drop in the little balls.

Cook the gnudi very gently, until they float to the top – about one minute or less. Remove with a slotted spoon. Drain, and plop into frying pan with the butter in it and give them a little shake to coat. Season with plenty of salt and cracked black pepper. Plus some extra Parmesan. (They don’t all float to the top and you will have one or two accidents/explosions. But after about 30 seconds or so, you can fish them out if they are not appearing.)

These are sumptuous little balls of buttery delight. I would marry anyone/renew my vows after eating a plate of these.