Skip to main content

Parsnip Gnocchi

These unusual and delicious gnocchi are baked rather than boiled. To make them, the chef at L'Etoile in Madison, Wisconsin, mixes mashed parsnips with a classic French dough, known as choux paste, made of eggs, butter and flour.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 6

Ingredients

3

pounds parsnips, peeled, cut into 2-inch-long pieces

3

/4 cup water

1

/2 cup (1 stick) butter

3

/4 teaspoon salt

1

cup all purpose flour

4

large eggs

1

/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1

tablespoon minced parsley (optional)

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 400°F. Steam parsnips until tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet; roast until light brown, about 45 minutes. Puree in processor.

    Step 2

    Bring water, butter and salt to boil in heavy medium saucepan, stirring until butter melts. Reduce heat to low. Add flour all at once; stir vigorously until mixture forms ball, about 2 minutes. Transfer hot paste to bowl of heavy-duty mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating 1 minute. Add 2 cups parsnip puree to paste mixture (reserve any remaining puree for another use); beat to blend. Stir in pepper. (Dough can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)

    Step 3

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Line large baking sheets with parchment. Transfer dough to pastry bag fitted with larger star tip. Pipe 2-inch-diameter rosettes onto sheets, spacing apart. Bake gnocchi until crisp and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes. Using spatula, transfer gnocchi to plates. Top with parsley, if desired.