These potato gnocchi are light puff balls that substantiate this dish without making it too heavy – they’re crispy on the outside and Mmmmmmeltingly tender on the inside.
Ingredients
—Potato Gnocchi
500g (bit more than a pound) floury potatoes, peeled and cubed
Salt
Big knob of butter
1 large egg
120g (4 ounces) plain flour
Extra virgin olive oil for frying
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 large red peppers (bell peppers/capsicums), core and seeds removed and finely diced
1 medium brown onion, peeled and finely diced
A few generous handfuls of watercress
8 free range eggs, at room temperature
Finely grated parmesan cheese (Use a microplane! They’re amazing!)
Finely grated lemon zest
Method
—Ilaria’s Breakfast Eggs with Magic Balls
The inevitable is on our doorstep, breaking through the clouds drop by drop. Yes, October is bringing autumn with it. The colours that line the local canal have transformed from fresh green to hues of burnt orange, contrasting with the black, seemingly bottomless stretch of water.
I needed something light and bright to pick me up, but it had to be comforting and a little bit luxurious. I don’t know about you but for me, a plate of potato-y starchy goodness covered in oozing egg yolks with parmesan fits the bill perfectly. So here’s my decadent Breakfast Eggs with Magic Balls! A bed of cress gives the dish a fiery pepperiness, while softened red peppers (bell peppers/capsicum) and onion give a sweetness that enhances the richness of softly poached yolks and parmesan. The potato gnocchi are light puff balls that substantiate the dish without making it too heavy – they’re crispy on the outside and meltingly tender on the inside. While they do demand a bit of attention, and take a few steps to make, they are worth it and really make this dish unique and special. If, however, you don’t have time, you can swap the gnocchi for simple roasted potato chunks – the choice is yours. Happy munching.
1 Let’s start off with the gnocchi as we all know the delights of waiting around for potatoes to cook! You can steam them if you prefer, or else, cook them in gently boiling water until tender. Drain well then push them through a large metal sieve with a rubber scraper (don’t process them as the purée can turn gluggy). Mix in the butter and half a teaspoon of salt, and put them aside to cool.
2 Next up, heat the oil in a large frying pan (skillet) and add the red pepper and onion. Cook on a very low heat stirring from time to time to ensure the pieces don’t catch. We want them to be softened to the max, so keep an eye on them to make sure there’s no burn. Once tender, set aside.
3 Bring the gnocchi back to the scene: to the now cooled purée, beat in the egg with a wooden spoon (beat vigorously at this point to draw in air, but don’t beat once the flour is added or the gnocchi will be tough). Sift over the flour and blend in.
4 Turn onto a lightly floured surface, knead very briefly to bring the dough together, then slice off a chunk of the mixture. Lightly flour the work surface and roll the potato mixture into a thin sausage shape (about the thickness of the handle of an old wooden jam-making spoon). Cut the roll into little ‘pillows’ with a sharp floured knife (the knife squishes the mixture as it cuts, leaving the pieces looking like elongated pillows). Repeat until all the dough is shaped.
5 Bring 2 medium pots of water to the boil – one for cooking the gnocchi and the other for poaching the eggs. When the gnocchi pot comes to the boil, turn it down to a medium-high heat and salt (you don’t want a roaring boil – the gnocchi are delicate and you don’t want them to disintegrate from giant bubbles!)
6 Drop in the gnocchi one by one, plopping them into the water; work quickly, flicking them in with the handle of a spoon. Cook gently for about 2 minutes, or until the gnocchi bob to the surface and settle. Remove the gnocchi from the water with a slotted spoon, and put them in a bowl.
7 To the other boiling pot of water, add a decent glug of vinegar (I randomly used apple cider vinegar as it was the first type I saw on our shelves!) Crack the first egg into a bowl, grab a big spoon and make a whirlpool in the pot, and plop the egg in. Ideally, all the white should fold over itself and turn opaque as it whirls around and (hopefully) come out a reasonably good looking poached egg. Fish it out with a slotted spoon and drain. Repeat for the other eggs. See information on poaching eggs here Poaching eggs
8 Heat oil in a fry pan and when hot add the cooked gnocchi and fry them until crispy! Done. Time to plate.
9 Put a generous handful of cress on to each of the serving plates, scatter over the red pepper and onion mix and crispy gnocchi, followed by the eggs. Sprinkle over finely grated parmesan and lemon zest, then season generously with salt and pepper and serve immediately!
Recipe Notes
This gnocchi recipe makes heaps as you’ll see, so only cook how many pieces you want to eat now – transfer the rest to trays lined with baking paper (I find this is the best thing to use to prevent sticking). You can cover the pieces loosely with more baking paper, or waxed paper, and leave in a dry place for up to 2 hours before cooking (do not leave them in a steamy atmosphere or they will become sticky), or refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Alternatively, freeze any you don’t need on a tray. Once frozen, transfer to a container. Cook from frozen, allowing about 5 minutes’ cooking.
Breakfast eggs with potatoes
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