Gnocchi Alla Romana (Baked Semolina Gnocchi)

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Servings: 4
Yield: 4 servings

Description

Homemade gnocchi alla Romana, made with semolina, Grana Padano and Gruyere cheese, are flecked with pancetta in this authentic Italian dish.

Ingredients

1 quart milk
5 tablespoons butter, divided
salt to taste
1 1/2 cups fine semolina flour
2 egg yolks
1 1/4 cups grated Grana Padano cheese, divided
1/3 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1 (3 ounce) package pancetta bacon, diced
1 pinch ground nutmeg, or to taste

Directions

1 Combine milk, 1/4 cup butter, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Whisk semolina into boiling milk, mixing well to prevent lumps. Reduce heat and cook, stirring often, until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat. Add egg yolks, 1 cup Grana Padano, and Gruyere cheese; stir well.
2 Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat; cook and stir pancetta until crisp, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir pancetta into semolina mixture.
3 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets with 1 1/2 teaspoon butter.
4 Spread semolina mixture onto 1 of the prepared baking sheets, about 1/2-inch thick. Allow to cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
5 Cut small disks out of cooled semolina using a juice glass or cookie cutter. Place the disks onto the other prepared baking sheet, slightly overlapping the disks. Sprinkle the remaining Grana Padano cheese over disks and dot with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoon butter.
6 Bake in the preheated oven until gnocchi are nicely crisp and golden, about 20 minutes.