Chef Guy Vaknin’s Vegan Potato and “Ricotta” Gnocchi

Gnocchi is an incredibly versatile dish that complements many sauces, vegetables, and garnishes. It’s an opportunity to get creative in the kitchen to make a delicious meal that suits your tastes. I paired this potato and “ricotta” gnocchi with a broccoli pesto for an extra dose of vegetables and nutrients. This dish is also on the menu at my newest restaurant Coletta, serving vegan and kosher Italian cuisine in Gramercy, NYC.

Gnocchi

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

• 2lbs baked Idaho potatoes
• 10oz all-purpose flour
• 8oz plant-based ricotta (we recommend Kite Hill)
• 200g plant-based eggs (we recommend Zero Eggs or Just Eggs)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Bake potatoes with the skin on until fork tender. Pass the cooked potatoes through a grater or strainer to achieve a fluffy mashed consistency.
2. Add vegan eggs and ricotta and mix until fully incorporated.
3. Add all-purpose flour and salt and pepper. Knead into a dough for 2 minutes on a floured table (do not over knead). Roll logs of the dough into 1" thick and cut to 1" pieces.
4. Let rest on a pan or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Broccoli Pesto

• 2 heads of broccoli
• 4oz fresh basil
• 2oz pine nuts
• 4oz olive oil
• 2oz plant-based cream
• 1/2 clove of fresh garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. To make the pesto, blanch broccoli heads for 30 seconds and drain. After dry, trim into florets and blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
2. To finish the dish, boil 6 quarts of water in a pot and add 2 tablespoons of salt.
3. Cook the gnocchi for 4 minutes at a simmer.
4. Add the warm broccoli pesto to the plate along with gnocchi, toasted pine nuts, fresh basil, and chili flakes.

Chef Guy Vaknin is the renowned chef and founder of popular NYC-based vegan sushi chain, Beyond Sushi, and has recently opened up Willow, a vegan bistro that serves elevated comfort food. In 2012, Guy was nominated as a contestant on Fox's Hell's Kitchen Season 10 and in 2018, Guy won a deal with investors Lori Grenier and Matt Higgins during his performance on Shark Tank.