Stale Bread Gnocchi

Stale bread gnocchi are a great way to repurpose bread that’s no longer fresh and turn it into a delicious dish. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 200 g of stale bread
• 200 ml of milk
• 1 egg
• 50 g of grated cheese (pecorino or parmesan)
• Nutmeg (to taste)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Flour as needed for working the dough

Preparation

1. Cut the stale bread into small pieces and soak it in milk until it softens well.
2. Squeeze the bread to remove excess milk and transfer it to a bowl.
3. Add the egg, grated cheese, a pinch of salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste.
4. Mix everything well with your hands or with a spoon until you get a homogeneous mixture. If the dough is too soft, you can add some flour until the desired consistency is reached.
5. Take small portions of dough and shape the gnocchi, using some flour on your hands if necessary.
6. Boil a pot of salted water and cook the gnocchi for a few minutes. You’ll know they are ready when they float to the surface.
7. Lift the gnocchi out with a slotted spoon and season them with the sauce or dressing you prefer.

Trivia

Stale bread gnocchi are a specialty that belongs to the culinary tradition of many Italian regions, particularly where there’s a habit of not wasting food and reusing leftovers. It’s a dish that allows for considerable variation in ingredients, such as adding spinach or aromatic herbs to the dough, and it can be seasoned with a variety of sauces, from classic meat sauce to simple butter and sage.