Gnocchi with Vegetables

Have you ever tried gnocchi with vegetables?! This recipe became one of my favourites as soon as I tried it. Simple, but full of taste and colours. Other than the Italian potato dumplings, it’s full of a bunch of fresh vegetables – aubergine, courgette, pepper, onion, mushrooms… And the aroma of smoked Parma ham gives it a cosy and homey feeling. For this recipe you need to fry the gnocchi in butter – this my favourite way to cook them. It gives them a splendid aroma, colour and texture – a golden crust, and hearty and fluffy middle.

Въпреки многобройните съставки ястието се приготвя лесно. Най-бавно е рязането на зеленчуците и въпреки това може да приготвите тези ньоки за около половин час. А какво са 30  минути за приготвянето на една здравословна и вкусна вечеря? Ястието може да бъде приготвено и вегетарианско – само не включвайте шунката в списъка за покупки и – et voila!

Ingredients for 4 big or 6 small portions:

• 750 g gnocchi
• 300 ml vegetable stock
• 150 g mushrooms
• 125 g feta cheese
• 50 g Parma ham
• 40 g walnuts
• 20 g butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small aubergine
• 1 courgette
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 onion
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp. basil
• 1/8 tsp. black pepper

Gnocchi with vegetables preparation:

1. Cut the aubergine into small cubes.
2. Pour the olive oil into a big frying pan and heat it up. Place in the aubergine cubes and sprinkle with ½ tsp salt. Fry for a few minutes, then place the lid on top and reduce the heat to medium.
3. Cut the onion into small pieces. Put it in the pan, stir and close the lid again.
4. Cut the pepper, mushrooms and courgette and add them into the pan.
5. Remove the lid and add in the vegetable stock and leave it to simmer until the water has almost evaporated. Stir periodically.
6. Add in the remaining salt, basil and black pepper. Cut the cheese into small cubes and add it to the vegetables. Stir well, place the lid on to keep everything warm and remove from the heat.
7. Take another frying pan and heat up the butter. Add in the gnocchi and cook them according to the instructions on the pack (usually around 5 minutes) until golden-brown.
8. In the meantime, cut the Parma ham into thin strips and prepare deep plates to serve.
9. Place the vegetables, then the gnocchi and decorate with the ham and walnuts.

Bon appetit!