Gnocchi Alla Romana (Semolina Gnocchi)

A great alternative to mashed potatoes!  Gnocchi all Romana (otherwise known as Semolina Gnocchi) is an ideal side dish for roasted or grilled meat – creamy, cheesy, and with bits of crunch on the sides!  Simply heavenly!

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This traditional dish from Rome feels like a hug from your favorite nonna — pure comfort, warmth, and deliciousness in every bite.

Velvety semolina, with the lusciousness of the butter and crunchy bits of cheese, everything melts in your mouth.

And don’t think it’s too much work.  Trust me; if you are new to making gnocchi (of any type), semolina gnocchi is the most forgiving version that you should start with.  

Just give it a try!

Ingredients

• Butter – note that I used unsalted butter in this recipe; hence I added half a teaspoon of salt.

You might need to adjust that if you are using salted butter.

• Parmigiano Reggiano – as far as I know, the authentic version uses Parmigiano. 

You can use Grana Padano if that’s what you have.  But remember that there is less ‘oomph’ in Grana than Parmigiano (Grana is slightly less intense, more delicate, in my opinion).

Oh!  And if you want more crunchy bits on top, you have to put TONS of cheese on top before placing it in the oven.

Instructions

Start by combining milk, salt, and nutmeg in a medium-sized saucepan (photo 1).

Place the saucepan on medium-high heat and bring to a boil.

When the milk is almost boiling (you will see bubbles forming on the sides), slowly add the semolina — while whisking continuously (photo 2).

Lower the heat into medium-low and continue whisking until the semolina starts pulling away from the sides of the pan.  This normally takes about ten minutes. 

Take the saucepan off the heat.

Using a small bowl, mix the yolk, half of the grated Parmigiano Reggiano, and half of the melted butter (photo 3).

Combine the yolk mixture with the semolina and mix evenly with a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon.

Transfer the mixture into a small tray (I used 25-cm x 17 cm) and spread it evenly (photo 4).

Place the tray in the refrigerator for at least an hour for the mixture to harden.

Preheat the oven into 225°C (425°F) and lightly grease the skillet with butter.

Use a 6-cm cookie cutter to cut round portions (gnocchi) of the hardened mixture (photo 5).

Place each portion into a buttered skillet, forming a circle (photo 6).

Drizzle your gnocchi Alla Romana with the remaining melted butter (photo 7).

Top with the remaining grated Parmigiano Reggiano (photo 8).

Place the skillet in the middle of the oven for twenty to twenty-five minutes or until the top turned golden.

Serve.

Helpful tips

• You have to keep whisking while adding the semolina to eliminate lumps in the mixture.

• Start using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon as soon as you feel that the whisk is no longer enough — and it’s ok to put down your arms for a few seconds to rest. 🙂

• Make sure that the melted butter you are mixing with the yolk is not hot, or you might end up cooking the yolk.

• The plastic that you used to line your tray should make it easier for you to lift the hardened mixture out of the tray for cutting.

• You can certainly use a small baking dish if you don’t have a cast-iron skillet.

FAQs

• CAN I PREPARE IT AHEAD?

You can certainly prepare the mixture and keep it in the refrigerator until it’s time for you to bake it.

However, you have to keep it uncovered when you place it inside the refrigerator.

Moisture will always form on top of the cover, making the top of the semolina mixture moist — you will never get it ready for cutting into portions.

• WHAT CAN I SERVE WITH THIS?

As a side dish, I normally serve it with grilled or roasted meats.  Sometimes though, I serve it as a main as well, with some fresh salad.

I know some people serve it with marinara sauce. Not me. Creamy, cheesy, and with crunchy edges – another winner ‘comfort food‘ on my list.

So, give Gnocchi Alla Romana a try this weekend and let me know what you think in the comment section below!

If you want another traditional dish from Rome, then you should try Roman-Style Chicken (Pollo Alla Romana)!