Baked Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi with Cherry Tomatoes
Photography by Josh Griggs.

These ricotta gnocchi are made in a simple mix-together process. The balsamic vinegar adds a lovely depth of flavour to the sauce.
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS
Gnocchi
300 grams baby spinach
400 grams firm ricotta
2 tablespoons pine nuts, roasted and roughly chopped
½ cup grated parmesan
2 egg yolks
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
finely grated zest 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, crushed
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
sea salt and ground pepper
Sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 x 400-gram tins cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
To top
1 ball fresh mozzarella, drained and ripped
parmesan for grating
METHOD
Equipment: A large ovenproof baking dish or sauté pan.
Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake.
Gnocchi: Put the spinach in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water, turning to wilt. Drain well then spread over a clean tea towel, roll up and squeeze out all the excess water. It’s important the spinach is dry or the gnocchi will fall apart. Chop finely and place in a large bowl. Add all the remaining ingredients, season and combine well. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.
Sauce: Heat the olive oil in a saucepan, add the garlic and stir for a few seconds then add the tomatoes and balsamic vinegar and simmer for 5 minutes.
Tip the sauce into the baking dish. Scoop golf ball-sized spoons of the gnocchi mixture into your hand and gently squeeze together into a rough shape. Nestle into the tomatoes then dot over the ripped mozzarella and top with a generous grating of parmesan. Bake for about 25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
latest issue:
Issue #102
Before we say goodbye to the the warmer weather, we're sneaking in one last bite of moreish nibbles inside the latest issue of dish. When it's time to retreat indoors, welcome the changing of the seasons with bountiful early autumn produce cooked to perfection. Our Dinner for Six Section will have you well prepared for all your family and friends by the time Easter rolls around with two stellar menus to choose from. And when the holidays are over, our snappy midweek meals will be waiting for you in our Food Fast section. You'll want to keep a glass handy, too, our top-rated Aussie Shirazes are the perfect accompaniment at dinnertime.