Last Updated on August 18, 2025 by Lisa Keys
This ricotta chive gnocchi recipe is so very easy to prepare. The little dumplings are tender, delicate and pillowy making them the perfect base for both light butter, pesto and tomato sauces.
Moving Forward
Moving forward on this grief journey I am taking a bend in the road and celebrating my William and his favorite Robert Frost poem........
.....with the concept of "two roads and a recipe". If ever there was a book title that is it. I will be twisting up one recipe and featuring it in two ways. In addition, I hope to highlight what is growing in my garden path. While the poem may highlight looking back with regret these recipes will only have you sighing with satisfaction.
Sauce Options For Ricotta Gnocchi
Which sauce do you choose? The buttery lemon sauce is a classic. It has a nutty rich flavor from the browned butter and just enough lemon to brighten the whole dish up. The delicate flavor of chives don't overpower. Or, the meaty Bolognese because we all need a little extra protein. This sauce gets acidity from the tomatoes cutting through the richness of the meat. Let me know in the comments.
And while we are out in the garden lets pick some joyful moments to add to the menu. The more joy you add the better life tastes.
Caitlin and Sam are celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary next week. I wish them a long life of commitment to each other and no regrets. May they make each other better people every single day. Thanks for bringing such joy to our families. They love gnocchi and I love them, so from my heart to yours enjoy.
Helpful tip: No gnocchi board no problem. Use the tines of a fork to make ridges in the pasta. Just roll the dumpling down the back of the fork.
Ricotta Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz container part-skim ricotta
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- 2 tablespoons finely snipped chives
- few grinds grated nutmeg
- pinch white pepper
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting board
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper and sprinkle with semolina flour.
- In a bowl, combine all ingredients adding just enough flour for dough to hold together. It will be a bit sticky.
- Turn dough out onto a floured work surface. Cut dough into 6 portions.
- With floured hands and using just enough flour to prevent the dough from sticking, roll each dough piece into a rope about ½-inch thick. Cut the rope into ½-inch pieces.
- Roll each cut piece on the tines of a fork or a gnocchi board. Place on prepared baking sheet making sure gnocchi don't touch each other. Cover and chill until ready to cook. Can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.
- Cook gnocchi in boiling salted water for about 1 minute or until they are floating.
- Serve with lemon brown butter or bolognese sauce.
- To make lemon-brown butter: melt 1 stick of unsalted butter over medium-low heat until it turns a toasty brown color, about 6 minutes. Add a squeeze of lemon juice, a tablespoon of snipped chives and a pinch of salt and ground pepper. Add gnocchi, tossing to coat. Serve immediately.
- To make Bolognese: In stock pot, melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add ½ cup each diced onion, small dice carrot and chopped celery; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until softened. Add 1-pound ground beef,* breaking up meat with a wooden spoon and cooking until no longer pink. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and few grind of pepper. Add 1-cup dry white wine. Increase heat to high and continue cooking until wine has evaporated. Add ½ cup of milk; cook until mixture again appears dry. Add 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes. Cook, uncovered, on very low heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
cookinformyboys
I love this poem. Your Gnocci looks so light a perfect - I will be trying the one with the brown butter!
Lisa
they really did come out light and pillowy. Hope you like the recipes.
Cathy
You Rock...and so do your photographs. Peace and Hope...
Lisa
Thank you. Mother nature makes it easy
Tracy
The pics are fabulous!
Lisa
thanks!
Krista
Introducing poetry, especially Frost, to my students was always one of my favorite things, and a couple of years ago when Aidan was in my literature class ( in 5th grade he had me for literature and social studies) he produced the most wonderful anthology of poems. I will always treasure it as well as the time he begrudgingly spent in my classroom.
I feel like I'm on the road less traveled, but I never got to choose. My own garden is filled with things my children helped me plant including chives, so I choose the lemon-chive brown butter. It seems so springy and refreshing. I could use that right now. Hopefully it will look as good as yours .
Lisa
One of my very best friend's is a 5th grade teacher. Your love for the children goes beyond the classroom. Aidan's poetry book is such a treasure-- a very deep connection between him and you as a teacher and a mom. Naturally, the only thing we would ever choose is to take back that tragic day and have our boys back, but you are right-we don't have that choice. How would Aidan want you to move forward? Maybe the answer is in his poetry.
paulajeancuisine
Beautiful. Simply Beautiful.
Lisa
thanks my sweet friend