Cottage cheese gnudi are mushy, pillowy dumplings—like the country cousin of gnocchi—made with cottage cheese as an alternative of the standard ricotta for additional protein. “Gnudi” means “nude” in Italian, referring to how these are primarily ravioli filling with out the pasta.
Cottage Cheese Gnudi
Historically made with ricotta, gnudi are mushy, delicate dumplings that style like the within of ravioli, minus the pasta. On this model, I take advantage of cottage cheese for a high-protein, budget-friendly swap that also delivers on taste and texture. The dumplings are gently simmered till tender, then tossed along with your favourite sauce.
I went with marinara, however they’re simply nearly as good with brown butter and sage or a easy drizzle of olive oil. Serve them as a vegetarian major or a hearty facet along with your go-to protein.
Why This Recipe Works
If you happen to’ve been round for some time, you understand how a lot I like utilizing cottage cheese so as to add protein to my recipes, like my cottage cheese bagels, cottage cheese lasagna, and cottage cheese frittata. Swapping ricotta for cottage cheese
labored out so properly on this gnudi recipe that I didn’t inform Tommy at first. Fortunately, he cherished them, even after I informed him.
- Excessive-Protein: In comparison with ricotta, cottage cheese provides extra protein and is commonly extra reasonably priced with out compromising on its creamy, melt-in- your-mouth texture.
- Easy Elements: With only a few pantry staples, you get a dish that feels fancy however is straightforward sufficient for a weeknight.
- Versatile & Meal-Prep Pleasant: These gnudi pair properly with a wide range of sauces, reheat fantastically, and may even be frozen for later.
- Child-Authorized Consolation Meals: Tender, tacky, and sauce-friendly—my children cherished them (and yours would possibly, too!).
- Dietary Restrictions: Weight Watchers-friendly, vegetarian, gluten-free (if utilizing GF flour), high-protein
What’s the distinction between gnudi and gnocchi?
Gnocchi are mushy dumplings constituted of potatoes, eggs, and flour. The gnocchi dough is fashioned right into a rope after which reduce into one-inch items. I’ve a number of variations on my web site, together with basic potato gnocchi with rooster in a roasted purple pepper sauce, zucchini gnocchi, and cauliflower gnocchi.
Conventional gnudi, which interprets to “bare” in Italian, mimics the filling of cheese ravioli. It’s normally made with ricotta cheese and flour, however I like the way it turned out with cottage cheese for a protein enhance.
Elements You’ll Want
Listed below are all of the cottage cheese gnudi components. See the recipe card beneath for the precise measurements.
- 2% Cottage Cheese: Good Tradition is my favourite model. Draining it properly will enhance the consistency, guaranteeing the dough doesn’t collapse whereas cooking.
- Parmesan Cheese provides a nutty taste.
- Egg Yolk binds the combination.
- Salt and Black Pepper for seasoning
- Nutmeg: Only a pinch provides complexity.
- All-Objective Flour combines with the cottage cheese to type the dough.
- Sauce: Use my selfmade marinara recipe, or purchase your favourite jarred sauce.
- Garnish with contemporary basil and grated parmesan.
Learn how to Make Cottage Cheese Gnudi
Right here’s a step-by-step information for the right way to make this straightforward cottage cheese gnudi recipe at dwelling. See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.
- Make the Gnudi Dough: Mix the cottage cheese in a small meals processor or blender till easy, in order that it resembles the smoothness of ricotta. Switch it to a bowl and stir within the parmesan, egg yolk, salt,
pepper, and nutmeg. Combine in ¾ cup of flour. The dough shall be sticky, but when it’s not holding collectively, add extra flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. - Kind the Gnudi: Coat your fingers with flour earlier than forming about 36 small gnudi. Place them on a flippantly floured rimmed baking sheet (or line it with parchment paper). When completed, refrigerate the tray for half-hour (Chilling them will assist them maintain their form so that they don’t collapse within the
water.) - Whereas the gnudi chill, put together the marinara (or warmth the jarred sauce on the range) and produce a big pot of salted water to a boil.
- Prepare dinner the gnudi within the boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes till they float to the highest. Utilizing a slotted spoon, take away the gnudi from the water and add them to the sauce.
Variations
- Cheese: Swap parmesan with Pecorino Romano.
- Ricotta: You may, after all, substitute cottage cheese with ricotta. If you happen to do, skip the blender step.
- Gluten-free Gnudi: Substitute AP flour with 1:1 gluten-free flour, like Cup4Cup.
What’s the most effective sauce for cottage cheese gnudi?
Any pasta sauce—not simply marinara—would work. Listed below are a few of my favorites:
Serving Recommendations
- Hold It Easy: Pair this high-protein gnudi with a inexperienced salad and piece of crusty bread for a hearty vegetarian meal.
- Enhance the Protein: Add diced rooster breasts or shrimp to the marinara to make it much more filling. This recipe requires loads of sauce, so that you’ll have additional to coat the protein. Nonetheless, if you’re consuming the gnudi by itself, you can also make much less sauce.
- As a Aspect Dish: Serve these Air Fryer Pork Chops or Broiled Tilapia Fillets as the primary course with the gnudi on the facet.
Meal Prep Ideas
- Make Forward: Cowl the tray and refrigerate as much as 24 hours earlier than cooking.
- Learn how to Freeze Uncooked Gnudi: Place them on a parchment-lined sheet pan and flash freeze. As soon as frozen, switch the gnudi to an hermetic container or zip-locked bag and freeze for 3 months. To prepare dinner, boil the frozen gnudi for an additional minute.
Storage
- Refrigerate the leftovers for as much as 4 days. Heat in a skillet on the range or within the microwave.
- Learn how to Freeze Cooked Gnudi: Freeze the gnudi and sauce in individual- serving containers for 3 months.
- Reheating: Thaw in a single day within the fridge and reheat within the microwave or on the range.
Extra Cottage Cheese Recipes You’ll Love
For extra dinner concepts utilizing cottage cheese, try these 5 scrumptious cottage cheese recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!
If you happen to make this wholesome cottage cheese gnudi recipe, I might like to see it. Tag me in your images or movies on Instagram, TikTok, or Fb! And make sure you be part of the Skinnytaste Group to see what everybody’s cooking!
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Dimension: 9 gnudi plus sauce
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Frivolously flour a rimmed baking sheet and put aside.
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Add the cottage cheese to a meals processor fitted with the blade attachment. Mix till easy. Switch the blended cottage cheese to a mixing bowl. Add the parmesan cheese, egg yolk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg to the bowl and stir to mix. Add in 3/4 cup flour and use a rubber spatula to combine it till it simply comes collectively right into a ball. If its not holding collectively, add extra flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. The dough shall be sticky.
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Frivolously flour your fingers and make about 36 rustic, quarter sized balls, inserting them on the ready baking sheet as you end rolling them. When your fingers get sticky, simply coat them with some extra flour earlier than persevering with. When you end with all of the dough, place the pan within the fridge for half-hour, when you make the sauce. If utilizing jarred sauce, warmth the over low warmth to a simmer and canopy. Within the meantime, carry a big pot of salted water to a boil.
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As soon as the water is boiling, add the Gnudi to the pot. Prepare dinner 3 to 4 minutes, till they float to the highest. Use a slotted spoon to switch the Gnudi to the pot with the sauce. Stir to coat the Gnudi within the sauce.
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To serve, divide the Gnudi and sauce in 4 bowls and prime with basil and parmesan cheese. Serve instantly.
Final Step:
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**If you would like a spicier model of the sauce, add some crushed purple pepper flakes. **That is very saucy, which I sort of prefer it in case you’re pairing the Gnudi with a protein as a result of you’ve gotten some additional sauce for that, however completely as much as you if you wish to use much less.
Serving: 9 gnudi plus sauce, Energy: 290.5 kcal, Carbohydrates: 39 g, Protein: 18 g, Fats: 8 g, Saturated Fats: 3.5 g, Ldl cholesterol: 66 mg, Sodium: 815 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 11 g
