Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (2024)

Published May 13, 2020.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This delicious recipe for gnudi are tasty ricotta cheese dumplings loaded up with spinach and parmesan cheese and are served with Pomodoro sauce.

If you’re a big dumpling fan, then these are definitely for you. They’re absolutely delicious, easy to make, and very similar to the ones I use in my chicken dumpling soup that I make a few times a year.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (1)

Gnudi

Gnudi are a tasty Tuscan, Italian favorite consisting of ricotta dough balls that got its name from the English word “nudi,” or naked. Often times called naked ravioli, gnudi is essentially the stuffing that goes into the ravioli.

These are incredibly easy to prepare and cook in only minutes making them a great weeknight meal or even an appetizer. These go a long way and will fill you up quickly.

What’s the Difference Between Gnocchi and Gnudi?

While the texture and cooking method is the same, gnocchi is quite a bit different than gnudi. The biggest contrast between the two is in the ingredients.

  • Gnocchi: potatoes, flour, and eggs
  • Gnudi: ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, eggs, and flour

Spinach Gnudi

Classically these are made with spinach and are known as Spinaci di Gnudi. Occasionally you will see them without spinach and will be called ricotta gnocchi or a ricotta dumpling. While most recipes call for frozen spinach, I find it better and fresher to cook baby spinach and use it in this recipe.

How to Make It

Follow these easy to follow instructions with step by step images for how to make gnudi:

Cook the spinach in boiling water, strain, and cool over a bowl in the refrigerator until chilled.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (2)

Drain as much liquid off of whole milk ricotta cheese as possible in a colander.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (3)

Squeeze as much liquid as possible from the cooked and cooled spinach, and then finely mince it, and mix it together with the ricotta, parmesan cheese, eggs, salt, and pepper until combined.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (4)

Gradually add in the flour until the dough tightens up but is still a bit sticky.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (5)

Scoop out 3-4 tablespoons of the dough and roll them around in the flour to make a small ball.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (6)

Boil them in some salted water for 4 to 5 minutes or until they float to the top and serve.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (7)

How to Serve It

Traditionally these would be served with some browned sage butter, similar to gnocchi. I personally find them absolutely delicious when served alongside a very simple tomato Pomodoro sauce. It’s just like eating ravioli without all of the dough and it is so good.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: While they are best eaten immediately, you can make these up to 1 day ahead of time. Simply reheat right before serving.

How to Reheat: Place them in a pot of boiling salted water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. You can also cook on a microwave-safe plate until hot.

How to Store: Cover and place in the refrigerator for 4 days. These will freeze excellently covered for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (8)

chef notes + tips

  • You can absolutely swap out fresh baby spinach for cooked frozen spinach that has been thawed.
  • Make sure the water for boiling the gnudi is at a very low boil as it can cause them to break apart.
Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (9)

More Italian Recipes

  • Chicken Cacciatore
  • Pasta Carbonara
  • Bucatini All’Amatriciana
  • Wedding Soup
  • Cioppino

Be sure to follow me onFacebook,Youtube,Instagram,andPinterest,and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (10)

Video

Save

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (11)

Print

5 from 12 votes

This delicious recipe for gnudi are tasty ricotta cheese dumplings loaded up with spinach and parmesan cheese and are served with Pomodoro sauce.

Servings: 30

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh baby spinach
  • 1 ½ pounds whole milk ricotta
  • 1 ¼ cups grated parmesan cheese
  • 6 large eggs
  • 3 ½ cups 00 or all-purpose flour
  • Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
  • ½ Pomodoro recipe

Instructions

  • Add the baby spinach to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until wilted.

  • Run the spinach under cold water and chill in the strainer over a bowl in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

  • Next, add the ricotta cheese to a strainer in a bowl and drain off as much liquid from the cheese as possible, which takes about 10 minutes.

  • Remove the baby spinach from the refrigerator and finely mince it and add to a large bowl along with the ricotta, parmesan, eggs, salt, and pepper until completely combined.

  • Add in the flour and mix to form a sticky dough. You may need to add in a bit more or use a bit less as it is more about feel than anything.

  • Scoop out about 3-4 tablespoons and roll them around in a small bowl of flour to coat and then roll them in your hand to form a ball. Repeat until all the dough has been rolled and set aside.

  • Cooking in batches add them to a large pot of boiling salted water for 4-5 minutes or until they float to the top.

  • Serve them with hot Pomodoro sauce with optional garnishes of grated parmesan cheese and basil leaves.

Notes

Chef Notes:

  • Make-Ahead: While they are best eaten immediately, you can make these up to 1 day ahead of time. Simply reheat right before serving.
  • How to Reheat: Place them in a pot of boiling salted water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. You can also cook on a microwave-safe plate until hot.
  • How to Store: Cover and place in the refrigerator for 4 days. These will freeze excellently covered for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.
  • You can absolutely swap out fresh baby spinach for cooked frozen spinach that has been thawed.
  • Make sure the water for boiling the gnudi is at a very low boil as it can cause them to break apart.

Nutrition

Calories: 127kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 7gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 108mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1602IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 115mgIron: 1mg

Course: Appetizer, entree, Main

Cuisine: Italian

Elevate Your Every Day Cooking

Get Chef Billy’s go-to tips that transform “blah” into “brilliant” plus weekly newsletter!

Add a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

26 comments

    • Constance Ruggieri

    Instead of boiling them, I deep fried them in hot EEVO till they were light brown and very crispy. Drained them and served them with a light pomidoro sauce. Delicioso!

    • Reply
      • Chef Billy Parisi

      Thanks!

      • Reply
    • Eileen
    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (12)

    A little fresh minced garlic perhaps?
    I think the gnudi with pomodoro was stellar!

    • Reply
    • Cecilia A O’Shaughnessy
    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (13)

    so yummy, worth the little bit of work that goes into them. freeze ok too.

    • Reply
    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (14)

        yes indeed!

        • Reply
      • Sarah BG
      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (15)

      Watched the video and was skeptical these would taste good at all, in part because I had never heard of gnudi before. Made them to test them out…they are divine! Such a great and light appetizer. Plus the instructions for storing/freezer and reheating (because the recipe makes a lot which is awesome) is a breeze!

      • Reply
      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (16)

          thanks for giving it a shot!!

          • Reply
        • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (18)

            appreciate you trying it

            • Reply
          • Teresa McCarthy
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (19)

          This was easy and impressive! Delicious!

          • Reply
          • Teresa McCarthy
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (20)

          Easy and delicious

          • Reply
          • Talaena Marven
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (21)

          Addicted! Made the pomodoro sauce for them…so good. I was bit messy making them but I can be a messy kid sometimes…I think I will have a better way about it next time…because there is definitely going to be a next time.

          • Reply
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (22)

              They’re tasty!

              • Reply
            • Pamela Lareau
            • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (23)

            Fresh and delicious!! Made this for special friends & it’s a keeper!!

            • Reply
            • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (24)

                Thank you

                • Reply
              • Aldo
              • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (25)

              Unbelievably delizioso

              • Reply
              • Donna

              Looks delish…I am sure homemade ricotta would be just fine in this???

              • Reply
              • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (26)

                  yes

                  • Reply
                • Anne

                How many servings is this recipe?

                • Reply
                • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (27)

                    Makes 30 gnudi.

                    • Reply
                  • Bonnie

                  Chef,
                  Is draining the spinach enough or must you squeeze it dry?

                  • Reply
                  • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (28)

                      squeeze it as best you can.

                      • Reply
                    • Tom
                    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (29)

                    Great Recipe. Can they be frozen prior to cooking or cooked first?

                    • Reply
                    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (30)

                        cooked first

                        • Reply
                      • CHARLENE LAFONTAINE
                      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (31)

                      Chef Parisi these look so good. Was wondering what I was going to make for my dinner tonight. Problem solved. I have so much ricotta right now and was trying to come up with different ways to use it up without becoming boring. Definitely will be freezing some of these.👍👍👍👍

                      • Reply
                      • Rehab
                      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (32)

                      Looks delicious, Thank you for sharing this! Thank you chef Billy.

                      • Reply
                    Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (2024)

                    FAQs

                    Why is my gnudi falling apart? ›

                    Too much moisture can make the delicate gnudi fall apart, so use a good quality whole-milk ricotta and remove as much moisture as possible.

                    What is gnudi made of? ›

                    Gnudi (Italian: [ˈɲuːdi]), also called malfatti, are gnocchi-like dumplings made with ricotta cheese and semolina instead of potato flour. The result is often a lighter, "pillowy" dish, unlike the often denser, chewier gnocchi.

                    What is the difference between gnocchi and gnudi? ›

                    Gnocchi have a starchy base, such as potato or flour, while gnudi are, at their simplest, little more than featherlight clouds of fluffy fresh ricotta, often dressed with nothing fancier than melted butter.

                    Can you freeze gnudi? ›

                    Shape them and place them on the lightly floured baking sheet—place in the freezer. Transfer the frozen gnudi to a freezer bag and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. You can cook frozen gnudi; make sure to cook for a couple of minutes longer.

                    How do you fix crumbly gnocchi dough? ›

                    My Gnocchi Are Falling Apart When I Cook Them

                    This means there isn't enough flour and your dough is too wet. Try adding another 1/4 cup of flour and try again. A good idea is to have a pot of water on the go before you roll out and shape your gnocchi.

                    How to stop gnocchi from going soggy? ›

                    When cool enough to handle, scrape off the skins and push the potato through a ricer or food mill, then, while still warm, start working your dough on a floured work surface. (Here, Davies offers up another tip to fight the mush: “Spread out the mash to cool; the escaping steam will further take away any moisture.”)

                    Can you reheat gnudi? ›

                    Make-Ahead: While they are best eaten immediately, you can make these up to 1 day ahead of time. Simply reheat right before serving. How to Reheat: Place them in a pot of boiling salted water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. You can also cook on a microwave-safe plate until hot.

                    What is a nudi? ›

                    Ravioli nudi, or “nude ravioli”, also known as gnudi, malfatti, gnocchi verdi, or the more literal gnocchi di ricotta e spinaci—are dumplings made with the usual spinach and ricotta filling for regular ravioli without their usual pasta “clothing”.

                    What are Italian dumplings called? ›

                    Gnocchi, pronounced 'n(y)oh-kee' (singular 'gnocco'), are a type of pasta consisting of soft, fat and chewy dumplings, typically paired with ragú, tomato or butter sauce. Traditionally, gnocchi dough is made of semolina or plain wheat flour, egg, and mashed potato.

                    How is gnudi pronounced in Italian? ›

                    The “g” is silent in both words; thus, gnocchi is pronounced “nyoh-kee,” while gnudi is pronounced “nyoo-dee” or simply “noo-dee.”

                    Is gnocchi better or worse for you than pasta? ›

                    Nutritional Value

                    Believe it or not, regular pasta is actually more carb-heavy than gnocchi, coming in at around 2 times the amount of carbs per serving. Gnocchi is also notorious for having a lot more sodium, with over 200 grams of it per serving. Regular pasta doesn't have nearly as high of a sodium content.

                    What city in Italy has the best gnocchi? ›

                    Gnocchi in Verona

                    While Gnocchi wasn't invented in Verona, the medieval city on the Adige River in northern Italy is certainly the place that's embraced it the most. The dish itself is remarkably simple – just a plate of little soft dough dumplings with a sauce.

                    Why can't you freeze gnocchi? ›

                    Keep in mind: You can freeze any type of gnocchi that is prepared. To keep their best texture freeze them uncooked for future cooking. It's an easy way to cook them straight from the freezer to make your favorite gnocchi dish to enjoy for an easy weeknight meal.

                    What are gnocchi made of ricotta cheese called? ›

                    To cook your ricotta gnocchi (or gnudi, if you'd prefer), all you have to do is boil a little salted water in a large pot and then add the gnocchi-- the same way you would any dried pasta. However, cooking the ricotta gnocchi actually takes less time than boiling dried pasta.

                    Can you make gnocchi ahead of time and freeze? ›

                    However, you can easily freeze gnocchi. Once they've been formed into dumplings, lay them in a single layer on two baking sheets, cover with cling film and freeze until solid, then transfer to sandwich bags and keep for up to 2 months.

                    What causes dumplings to fall apart? ›

                    Homemade dumplings can fall apart for a number of different reasons, or any combination of them. Often they burst during cooking because they have too much filling for the amount of dough. Some doughs are too dry, so the dumplings won't stay sealed. Others can be too wet and sticky and end up tearing.

                    Why are my gnocchi falling apart? ›

                    Gnocchi can disintegrate for a few reasons. You might not have added enough flour or egg, or you may have overboiled them.

                    Why do my homemade noodles fall apart? ›

                    Hanging pasta for long causes it to dry too quickly, and that's what causes curling and brittle or fractured pasta.

                    References

                    Top Articles
                    Latest Posts
                    Article information

                    Author: Kareem Mueller DO

                    Last Updated:

                    Views: 6142

                    Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

                    Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

                    Author information

                    Name: Kareem Mueller DO

                    Birthday: 1997-01-04

                    Address: Apt. 156 12935 Runolfsdottir Mission, Greenfort, MN 74384-6749

                    Phone: +16704982844747

                    Job: Corporate Administration Planner

                    Hobby: Mountain biking, Jewelry making, Stone skipping, Lacemaking, Knife making, Scrapbooking, Letterboxing

                    Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.