These beautiful wooden boards will (quite literally) add a new dimension to your Italian cooking.
Gnocchi!
Just writing the word makes us hungry. Today, we’re talking about gnocchi boards; what they are, how to use them, and how to take care of them!
First, What is Gnocchi?
Gnocchi is a style of Italian dumpling noodles, made with potatoes and flour. They're delightfully delicate little pillows of dough, when made properly!
Traditionally, gnocchi is served in small portions, as a primo course (or first course) in lieu of a pasta dish. There are many different kinds of sauces you can serve with gnocchi, from meat sauces to tomato sauces, or even simply a sauce of butter and sage (yeah: YUM!). You can even use different vegetables to make the gnocchi dough, like pumpkin or sweet potatoes.
The ridges that are characteristic of classic gnocchi are one of the features that make this dish so perfect. Just like homemade pasta, making gnocchi from scratch takes a bit more effort, but the results are SO worth it. In order to get the perfect rounded and ridged shape of classic gnocchi, you will want to invest in a gnocchi board.
What is a Gnocchi Board?
A gnocchi board will add the all-important ridges to your gnocchi and pasta, creating the ideal shape for your sauce to cling to. If you want to make the perfect batch of homemade gnocchi, then you should definitely invest in a gnocchi board–aka a rigagnocchi.
A gnocchi board is a specialized, rectangular tool used for shaping gnocchi or cavatelli. Gnocchi boards can be made of wood or plastic, and come in lots of different sizes–though they are typically about the size of your hand.
Traditional Italian board lets you make beautiful, authentic gnocchi right from the comfort of your own kitchen. Also, they’re super easy to use.
How to Use a Gnocchi Board
When you’re making gnocchi, each piece of dough should be rolled on the gnocchi board to transform the surface from smooth to grooved.
To do this, place one piece of dough on the gnocchi board and roll the dough away from you, using your thumb to press gently against the ridges. This will cause the gnocchi to "roll" into a slightly curved shape, and leave impressions in the dough.
Repeat this movement with each piece of dough.
How Do You Care For a Gnocchi Board?
Gnocchi boards are pretty low-maintenance, especially when they’re used properly.
While you’re using it, sprinkle flour generously onto your board to keep the gnocchi from sticking. When you’re finished with your gnocchi board, use a toothpick or fork to remove any lingering dough, and brush off the flour.
Do not wash your gnocchi boards or put them in the dishwasher, especially if they’re made of wood.
What to Use if You Don’t Have a Gnocchi Board
If you don’t own a gnocchi board, and you’re short on time, you have a few different options.
You can use the tines of a fork, holding it at a 90 degree angle with the tips of the tines touching the work surface. Roll the pieces of dough down the tines to create a depression on one side and a pattern on the other.
Or, for a slightly different pattern, try a cheese grater. If you go this route, be sure to roll in the opposite direction you’d go in if you were shredding, and watch your fingers!
Also, you can tape a row of toothpicks together on a board, and use them to create little grooves in the gnocchi.
IMPASTIAMO Gnocchi Boards
At the end of the day, every home chef should own a proper set of gnocchi boards. Whether you have a set passed down from generation to generation, or you decided to invest in a board of your own, you won’t be sorry you added one of these to your toolkit.
IMPASTIAMO TIP: Our beautiful wooden gnocchi boards are made near Verbania, Italy, by a small family owned business that's been making wood kitchen tools since 1978.
Here are Some of Our Favorite Gnocchi Recipes:
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