Cottage cheese gnudi are comfortable, pillowy dumplings—like the country cousin of gnocchi—made with cottage cheese as an alternative of the standard ricotta for further 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 comfortable, delicate dumplings that style like the within of ravioli, minus the pasta. On this model, I exploit 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 primary 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 really 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 effectively 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 inexpensive with out compromising on its creamy, melt-in- your-mouth texture.
- Easy Components: With just some pantry staples, you get a dish that feels fancy however is straightforward sufficient for a weeknight.
- Versatile & Meal-Prep Pleasant: These gnudi pair effectively with quite a lot of sauces, reheat superbly, and may even be frozen for later.
- Child-Accepted Consolation Meals: Tender, tacky, and sauce-friendly—my youngsters cherished them (and yours may, 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 comfortable dumplings produced from potatoes, eggs, and flour. The gnocchi dough is shaped right into a rope after which minimize into one-inch items. I’ve a number of variations on my website, together with basic potato gnocchi with rooster in a roasted pink 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 really like the way it turned out with cottage cheese for a protein enhance.
Components You’ll Want
Listed here are all of the cottage cheese gnudi elements. See the recipe card under for the precise measurements.
- 2% Cottage Cheese: Good Tradition is my favourite model. Draining it effectively will enhance the consistency, making certain the dough doesn’t crumble 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-Goal Flour combines with the cottage cheese to kind the dough.
- Sauce: Use my selfmade marinara recipe, or purchase your favourite jarred sauce.
- Garnish with recent basil and grated parmesan.
Make Cottage Cheese Gnudi
Right here’s a step-by-step information for learn how to make this simple cottage cheese gnudi recipe at residence. 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 clean, 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 will likely be sticky, but when it’s not holding collectively, add extra flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. - Kind the Gnudi: Coat your palms 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 crumble 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, change 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 very best sauce for cottage cheese gnudi?
Any pasta sauce—not simply marinara—would work. Listed here are a few of my favorites:
Serving Recommendations
- Preserve It Easy: Pair this high-protein gnudi with a inexperienced salad and a superb piece of crusty bread for a hearty vegetarian meal.
- Increase 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 further to coat the protein. Nevertheless, in case you are consuming the gnudi by itself, you may make much less sauce.
- As a Facet Dish: Serve these Air Fryer Pork Chops or Broiled Tilapia Fillets as the primary course with the gnudi on the facet.
Meal Prep Suggestions
- Make Forward: Cowl the tray and refrigerate as much as 24 hours earlier than cooking.
- 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.
- 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 pictures or movies on Instagram, TikTok, or Fb! And make sure to be a part of the Skinnytaste Neighborhood to see what everybody’s cooking!
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Measurement: 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 clean. 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 will likely be sticky.
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Frivolously flour your palms and make about 36 rustic, quarter sized balls, inserting them on the ready baking sheet as you end rolling them. When your palms 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, whilst you make the sauce. If utilizing jarred sauce, warmth the over low warmth to a simmer and canopy. Within the meantime, convey 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 high with basil and parmesan cheese. Serve instantly.
Final Step:
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**If you’d like a spicier model of the sauce, add some crushed pink 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 have got some further 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