Skip to content

Crispy Gnocchi With Spinach and Feta

Recipe picture

  • Serves: 4
  • Time: 25 min
  • Date added: 2024-09-11

Description

Inspired by the herbaceous and jaunty flavors of spanakopita, the savory, ever popular Greek pie, spinach and feta headline this textural gnocchi salad. The spinach is not cooked, but is simply massaged, which softens it while ensuring it maintains its leafy structure. Incorporating some feta to the spinach massage is a functional move — the salt in the feta helps to tenderize the leaves — but it also adds a hint of quiet luxury to this dish, as the leaves become coated with the creamy, briny cheese. Be heavy-handed with your herbs and lemon, as these bring boldness and freshness that play off the saltiness of the feta. Everyday shelf-stable gnocchi from your local supermarket is perfect for crisping in the pan; if you choose to use frozen variety, no defrosting is required.

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces baby spinach
  • 6 ounces Greek feta, crumbled (about 1 cup)
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 (16- to 17-ounce) package potato gnocchi (shelf-stable, fresh or frozen)
  • .25 to .5 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 2scallions, thinly sliced
  • Big handful of chopped dill
  • Big handful of chopped mint

Directions

  1. Place the spinach into a large bowl. Add half of the feta, juice of ½ lemon, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a big pinch of salt; rub the ingredients vigorously into the spinach to tenderize it. Leave to sit and soften further while you cook the gnocchi.
  2. Heat a large (about 12-inch) cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high; add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the gnocchi to the pan, breaking up any that are stuck together. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, tossing every 2 minutes, until golden and crispy all over. Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes; they will further crisp as they cool.
  3. Add the gnocchi to the spinach, along with the red pepper, scallions, dill and mint. Drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, add the remaining crumbled feta and toss to combine. Squeeze the remaining lemon juice over top and serve.

Source

NYTimes

Comments

  • 2024-09-11: made with arugula and added a handful of cherry tomatoes. delicious