Homemade Nettle Gnocchi 🌿🥔 | Simple, Healthy, and Spring-like Recipe
A genuine and surprising recipe, perfect to prepare in spring when the tender shoots of nettle abound in the meadows. Often considered a "bad" herb due to its stinging effect, in reality, the nettle is rich in beneficial properties and is also great in the kitchen. 🧤✨
These nettle gnocchi are a rustic and nutritious dish, made with potatoes, softened bread, and very little flour, and simply seasoned with melted butter, sage, and grated Grana. A dish that smells of home, nature, and peasant tradition. Thanks to Martina and her mom Elvira, who shared this truly special recipe! 💚
🛒 Ingredients for 4 people
- 400 g of potatoes to be boiled
- 70 g of fresh nettles (a little more if you prefer)
- 80 g of flour
- ½ stale bread roll, softened in a little milk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Grana Padano, to taste
- Butter or extra virgin olive oil, to taste
- Some sage leaves
👩🍳 Preparation
- Gather the nettle shoots using gardening gloves.
- Let them wilt in boiling water for about 6 minutes: once cooked, they won't sting anymore!
- Squeeze the nettles tightly and chop them finely.
- Boil the potatoes, then peel and mash them in a bowl.
- Add the chopped nettles, the half bread roll soaked in milk (squeezed) and the flour. Adjust with salt and pepper.
- Knead until you obtain a soft but workable dough.
- Divide the dough into rolls about 1 cm in diameter and cut the gnocchi.
🍽️ Cooking and Seasoning
- Bring plenty of salted water to a boil, cook the gnocchi until they rise to the surface.
- Gently drain them and season with melted butter and sage or with EVO oil and grated Grana.
✨ A healthy and rustic first course, perfect for enhancing the spontaneous spring herbs with flavor and simplicity.
The image of the dishes is purely indicative and does not necessarily correspond exactly to the recipe.
📚 Recipe by mom Elvira, shared by Martina Simonini
💡 The Beneficial Properties of Nettle
🌱 Anti-anemic – Rich in chlorophyll, iron, and folic acid
🌱 Strengthens the immune system – Thanks to silicon and minerals
🌱 Remineralizing and toning – With phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, manganese, and potassium
🌱 Source of vitamins – Contains vitamins A, C, and K
🌱 Purifying, diuretic, and detoxifying
🌱 Vasoconstrictor and hemostatic
