Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Radicchio and Speck

Sweet potato gnocchi with radicchio and speck is a tasty variation on the classic Italian gnocchi dish. The sweetness of the sweet potatoes perfectly combines with the bitterness of the radicchio and the smoky flavor of speck. Below, I’ll provide you with all the details to prepare this dish.

Ingredients

• 500 g of sweet potatoes
• 150-200 g of 00 flour (the amount may vary according to the moisture of the potatoes)
• 1 egg
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• Nutmeg, as desired
• 200 g of Treviso radicchio
• 100 g of thinly sliced speck
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic
• grated Parmesan cheese, as desired

Preparation

1. Start by cooking the sweet potatoes; you can bake them wrapped in aluminum foil at 180 °C until they become soft, or you can boil them with their skin on until they can be easily mashed with a fork.
2. Once cooked, peel them and mash them with a potato masher or a food mill to obtain a fine puree.
3. Transfer the puree to a large bowl and let it cool. Add the egg, a pinch of salt, pepper, nutmeg, and begin to incorporate the flour a little at a time until you get a homogeneous and not too sticky dough.
4. Flour a work surface and take a piece of dough at a time to form “sausages”; then cut them into pieces of about 2 cm to create the gnocchi.
5. In a large pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil with a clove of garlic, and add the radicchio cut into thin strips. Let it wilt for a few minutes and then remove the garlic.
6. Meanwhile, cut the speck into strips and add it to the radicchio.
7. Cook the gnocchi in plenty of salted water until they float to the surface, a sign that they are ready.
8. Drain them with a slotted spoon directly into the pan with radicchio and speck, increasing the flame to sauté everything together for a few minutes.
9. Serve the gnocchi immediately while hot, with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese to taste.

Curiosity

Speck is a typical ingredient from South Tyrol, distinguished by its smoking and seasoning that provides dishes with a unique aroma and a strong flavor. Meanwhile, Treviso radicchio, with its slight bitterness, is a typical product of Veneto; together they create a balance of flavors that is highly appreciated in contemporary Italian cuisine. By combining these typical Italian ingredients with sweet potatoes, a unique fusion of flavors is created, making this dish sophisticated and comforting at the same time.