Gnocchi alla Sorrentina

Name: Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil; 1 red onion, finely chopped; Salt flakes, to taste; 450g potato gnocchi; 125g baby Roma tomatoes, quartered; 125g yellow grape tomatoes, halved; ¼ cup shredded basil leaves; 100g Mozzarella di Bufala, torn; ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

This deliciously simple dish is so easy even a child can make it (see video below). It’s named for the town of Sorrento on Italy’s Amalfi coast and I first ate it at Ristorante Da Ciccio. This family-run restaurant is perched on a cliff edge just north of Amalfi, and the tomatoes used are grown on the terraces of the family farm in Scala, a village high above the coast. The tomato juice and olive oil form an emulsion which gives the gnocchi alla Sorrentina sauce a lovely creamy consistency. Buffalo mozzarella is traditionally torn into shreds rather than being cut, but if I’m using the small buffalo bocconcini from Vannella Cheese I just quarter them. Since we’re in the Italian region of Campania, I’m reaching for a glass of the local varietal fiano, which is now being made so well in Australia. Coriole in McLaren Vale started it all in 2005, and still produce one of my favourites. Ideally make your own gnocchi, it’s really easy and fun (see recipe and video here)!

Serves 4 as a starter

Ingredients

⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 red onion, finely chopped
Salt flakes, to taste
450g potato gnocchi
125g baby Roma tomatoes, quartered
125g yellow grape tomatoes, halved
¼ cup shredded basil leaves
100g buffalo mozzarella, cut into bite-sized pieces
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Method

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan over a low heat. Add the onion and a good pinch of salt and cook, covered, stirring occasionally for 5-10 minutes until soft but not coloured.
Add gnocchi to the water and boil until they start to float to the top.
Meanwhile, add tomatoes to the frying pan and continue cooking, stirring occasionally to break them up just a little.
When the gnocchi start to float, scoop them out of the water with a slotted spoon and add them to the frying pan, stirring gently.
When all the gnocchi are in the frying pan, stir in the basil, mozzarella and parmesan and serve.