Tired of the same old crap for dinner...tonight I'm gonna COOK: Lemon Gnocchi with Spinach and Peas

[Amerigo Vespucci]

I even made a special trip to get the De Cecco Gnocchi (it really is the best brand of pasta, PERIOD).

yield: Makes 4 servings

active time: 10 min
total time: 20 min

The zing of fresh lemon enhances both the peas' sweetness and the natural flavor of the spinach. The whole quick, creamy dish is bolstered by soft pillows of potato gnocchi.




1 cup frozen baby peas (not thawed)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
1 garlic clove, smashed
3 cups packed baby spinach (3 ounces)
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 pound dried gnocchi (preferably De Cecco)
1/4 cup grated parmesan

Simmer peas with cream, red-pepper flakes, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a 12-inch heavy skillet, covered, until tender, about 5 minutes.

Add spinach and cook over medium-low heat, uncovered, stirring, until wilted. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest and juice.

Meanwhile, cook gnocchi in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water) until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta-cooking water, then drain gnocchi.

Add gnocchi to sauce with cheese and some of reserved cooking water and stir to coat. Thin with additional cooking water if necessary.

[freshwest]

1. Never heard of it but I'm going to try some lemon with veggies now. You're a great cook.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. Thanks...

...the lemon is what really lights this one up. All of the flavors are delicate, to a degree, and the lemon is like lighting the brandy on a delicious beef & veggie skewer. It makes a conglomeration of things that are great on their own even better.

[HopeHoops]

3. Hell, I was going to ask where the fuck you got "lemon gnocchi", but it isn't the gnocchi.

I was thinking it was flavored like ravioli or something. You know, if you add a little tequila to that (not much), it will compliment the lemon. Seriously, I mean "not much". If you want tequila, do the shooters on the side.

Speaking of tequila shooters...

About ten years ago, I was at a bar and they were doing tequila with Tabasco in it (snakebite?). It was some dude's birthday and they were carefully dropping one or two drops of Tabasco into each shot and then CRINGING at how hot it was. Pussies. I interrupted and said that if they would buy me a shot, they could put as much Tabasco in it as they wanted and then got up and headed to the bathroom. I glanced back to see one of the guys loading it up with a shit-eating grin on his face. When I got back, it looked like a tequila sunrise - there was about a quarter inch of Tabasco in the bottom. I sat down, tossed it back, and said "thanks for the shot". I've never seen so many jaws hit a bar at once.

[kimi]

4. Drooooooolll!!!

Thanks for the recipe! Nice and vegetarian, I must try!