Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (2024)

Published May 13, 2020.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This delicious recipe for gnudi are tasty ricotta cheese dumplings loaded up with spinach and parmesan cheese and are served with Pomodoro sauce.

If you’re a big dumpling fan, then these are definitely for you. They’re absolutely delicious, easy to make, and very similar to the ones I use in my chicken dumpling soup that I make a few times a year.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (1)

Gnudi

Gnudi are a tasty Tuscan, Italian favorite consisting of ricotta dough balls that got its name from the English word “nudi,” or naked. Often times called naked ravioli, gnudi is essentially the stuffing that goes into the ravioli.

These are incredibly easy to prepare and cook in only minutes making them a great weeknight meal or even an appetizer. These go a long way and will fill you up quickly.

What’s the Difference Between Gnocchi and Gnudi?

While the texture and cooking method is the same, gnocchi is quite a bit different than gnudi. The biggest contrast between the two is in the ingredients.

  • Gnocchi: potatoes, flour, and eggs
  • Gnudi: ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, eggs, and flour

Spinach Gnudi

Classically these are made with spinach and are known as Spinaci di Gnudi. Occasionally you will see them without spinach and will be called ricotta gnocchi or a ricotta dumpling. While most recipes call for frozen spinach, I find it better and fresher to cook baby spinach and use it in this recipe.

How to Make It

Follow these easy to follow instructions with step by step images for how to make gnudi:

Cook the spinach in boiling water, strain, and cool over a bowl in the refrigerator until chilled.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (2)

Drain as much liquid off of whole milk ricotta cheese as possible in a colander.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (3)

Squeeze as much liquid as possible from the cooked and cooled spinach, and then finely mince it, and mix it together with the ricotta, parmesan cheese, eggs, salt, and pepper until combined.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (4)

Gradually add in the flour until the dough tightens up but is still a bit sticky.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (5)

Scoop out 3-4 tablespoons of the dough and roll them around in the flour to make a small ball.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (6)

Boil them in some salted water for 4 to 5 minutes or until they float to the top and serve.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (7)

How to Serve It

Traditionally these would be served with some browned sage butter, similar to gnocchi. I personally find them absolutely delicious when served alongside a very simple tomato Pomodoro sauce. It’s just like eating ravioli without all of the dough and it is so good.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: While they are best eaten immediately, you can make these up to 1 day ahead of time. Simply reheat right before serving.

How to Reheat: Place them in a pot of boiling salted water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. You can also cook on a microwave-safe plate until hot.

How to Store: Cover and place in the refrigerator for 4 days. These will freeze excellently covered for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (8)

chef notes + tips

  • You can absolutely swap out fresh baby spinach for cooked frozen spinach that has been thawed.
  • Make sure the water for boiling the gnudi is at a very low boil as it can cause them to break apart.
Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (9)

More Italian Recipes

  • Chicken Cacciatore
  • Pasta Carbonara
  • Bucatini All’Amatriciana
  • Wedding Soup
  • Cioppino

Be sure to follow me onFacebook,Youtube,Instagram,andPinterest,and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (10)

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Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (11)

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5 from 12 votes

This delicious recipe for gnudi are tasty ricotta cheese dumplings loaded up with spinach and parmesan cheese and are served with Pomodoro sauce.

Servings: 30

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh baby spinach
  • 1 ½ pounds whole milk ricotta
  • 1 ¼ cups grated parmesan cheese
  • 6 large eggs
  • 3 ½ cups 00 or all-purpose flour
  • Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
  • ½ Pomodoro recipe

Instructions

  • Add the baby spinach to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until wilted.

  • Run the spinach under cold water and chill in the strainer over a bowl in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

  • Next, add the ricotta cheese to a strainer in a bowl and drain off as much liquid from the cheese as possible, which takes about 10 minutes.

  • Remove the baby spinach from the refrigerator and finely mince it and add to a large bowl along with the ricotta, parmesan, eggs, salt, and pepper until completely combined.

  • Add in the flour and mix to form a sticky dough. You may need to add in a bit more or use a bit less as it is more about feel than anything.

  • Scoop out about 3-4 tablespoons and roll them around in a small bowl of flour to coat and then roll them in your hand to form a ball. Repeat until all the dough has been rolled and set aside.

  • Cooking in batches add them to a large pot of boiling salted water for 4-5 minutes or until they float to the top.

  • Serve them with hot Pomodoro sauce with optional garnishes of grated parmesan cheese and basil leaves.

Notes

Chef Notes:

  • Make-Ahead: While they are best eaten immediately, you can make these up to 1 day ahead of time. Simply reheat right before serving.
  • How to Reheat: Place them in a pot of boiling salted water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. You can also cook on a microwave-safe plate until hot.
  • How to Store: Cover and place in the refrigerator for 4 days. These will freeze excellently covered for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.
  • You can absolutely swap out fresh baby spinach for cooked frozen spinach that has been thawed.
  • Make sure the water for boiling the gnudi is at a very low boil as it can cause them to break apart.

Nutrition

Calories: 127kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 7gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 108mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1602IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 115mgIron: 1mg

Course: Appetizer, entree, Main

Cuisine: Italian

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26 comments

    • Constance Ruggieri

    Instead of boiling them, I deep fried them in hot EEVO till they were light brown and very crispy. Drained them and served them with a light pomidoro sauce. Delicioso!

    • Reply
      • Chef Billy Parisi

      Thanks!

      • Reply
    • Eileen
    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (12)

    A little fresh minced garlic perhaps?
    I think the gnudi with pomodoro was stellar!

    • Reply
    • Cecilia A O’Shaughnessy
    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (13)

    so yummy, worth the little bit of work that goes into them. freeze ok too.

    • Reply
    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (14)

        yes indeed!

        • Reply
      • Sarah BG
      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (15)

      Watched the video and was skeptical these would taste good at all, in part because I had never heard of gnudi before. Made them to test them out…they are divine! Such a great and light appetizer. Plus the instructions for storing/freezer and reheating (because the recipe makes a lot which is awesome) is a breeze!

      • Reply
      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (16)

          thanks for giving it a shot!!

          • Reply
        • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (18)

            appreciate you trying it

            • Reply
          • Teresa McCarthy
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (19)

          This was easy and impressive! Delicious!

          • Reply
          • Teresa McCarthy
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (20)

          Easy and delicious

          • Reply
          • Talaena Marven
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (21)

          Addicted! Made the pomodoro sauce for them…so good. I was bit messy making them but I can be a messy kid sometimes…I think I will have a better way about it next time…because there is definitely going to be a next time.

          • Reply
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (22)

              They’re tasty!

              • Reply
            • Pamela Lareau
            • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (23)

            Fresh and delicious!! Made this for special friends & it’s a keeper!!

            • Reply
            • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (24)

                Thank you

                • Reply
              • Aldo
              • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (25)

              Unbelievably delizioso

              • Reply
              • Donna

              Looks delish…I am sure homemade ricotta would be just fine in this???

              • Reply
              • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (26)

                  yes

                  • Reply
                • Anne

                How many servings is this recipe?

                • Reply
                • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (27)

                    Makes 30 gnudi.

                    • Reply
                  • Bonnie

                  Chef,
                  Is draining the spinach enough or must you squeeze it dry?

                  • Reply
                  • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (28)

                      squeeze it as best you can.

                      • Reply
                    • Tom
                    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (29)

                    Great Recipe. Can they be frozen prior to cooking or cooked first?

                    • Reply
                    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (30)

                        cooked first

                        • Reply
                      • CHARLENE LAFONTAINE
                      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (31)

                      Chef Parisi these look so good. Was wondering what I was going to make for my dinner tonight. Problem solved. I have so much ricotta right now and was trying to come up with different ways to use it up without becoming boring. Definitely will be freezing some of these.👍👍👍👍

                      • Reply
                      • Rehab
                      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (32)

                      Looks delicious, Thank you for sharing this! Thank you chef Billy.

                      • Reply
                    Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (2024)

                    FAQs

                    What is the difference between gnocchi and gnudi? ›

                    Gnudi are soft, creamy Italian pillows of ricotta and Parmesan cheese—they are similar to gnocchi but are made with little or no flour. The word gnudi means "naked"—that makes sense because they are like cheese ravioli without the pasta covering.

                    How do you keep gnudi from falling apart? ›

                    3 Tips for Great Gnudi
                    1. Buy the best ricotta you can find. If the ricotta isn't thick enough, you run the risk of them falling apart as they boil, so you'll want to seek out the thickest whole-milk ricotta you can find. ...
                    2. Sprinkle the gnudi generously with flour. ...
                    3. Don't skimp on chill time.
                    Aug 27, 2022

                    What does gnudi in Italian mean? ›

                    Gnudi is the Tuscan word for "naked" (in standard Italian nudi), the idea being that these "pillowy" balls of ricotta and spinach (sometimes without spinach, which is also known as ricotta gnocchi) are "nude ravioli", consisting of just the tasty filling without the pasta shell.

                    What is gnocchi made of ricotta cheese called? ›

                    While both ricotta gnocchi and gnudi are dumplings made with ricotta cheese, gnudi are made with a minimal amount of flour. They're larger and fluffier than ricotta gnocchi. And, ricotta gnocchi are a bit more substantial in texture.

                    What is a substitute for semolina in gnudi? ›

                    Semolina Substitute

                    Replace the semolina flour called for in the recipe with an equal amount of all-purpose flour, bread flour, or whole-wheat flour. Bread flour or whole-wheat flour will work best; they have a higher gluten content than all-purpose flour.

                    Is gnocchi better or worse for you than pasta? ›

                    Nutritional Value

                    Believe it or not, regular pasta is actually more carb-heavy than gnocchi, coming in at around 2 times the amount of carbs per serving. Gnocchi is also notorious for having a lot more sodium, with over 200 grams of it per serving. Regular pasta doesn't have nearly as high of a sodium content.

                    Can you reheat gnudi? ›

                    Make-Ahead: While they are best eaten immediately, you can make these up to 1 day ahead of time. Simply reheat right before serving. How to Reheat: Place them in a pot of boiling salted water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. You can also cook on a microwave-safe plate until hot.

                    Can I freeze gnudi? ›

                    Cover baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 and up to 3 days, turning the gnudi once per day. Once gnudi have formed a skin, they can be frozen.

                    Why won't my gnocchi dough stay together? ›

                    My Gnocchi Are Falling Apart When I Cook Them

                    This means there isn't enough flour and your dough is too wet. Try adding another 1/4 cup of flour and try again. A good idea is to have a pot of water on the go before you roll out and shape your gnocchi.

                    What is a gumba in Italian girlfriend? ›

                    In Italian, the word goomba is used to refer to a close friend or companion.

                    What does feta mean in Italian? ›

                    Feta has been around in Greece since the eighth century B.C.E., but its name is actually borrowed from an Italian word that means "slice."

                    Can I use cream cheese instead of ricotta in gnocchi? ›

                    Because the texture is so similar, you can use it in a 1:1 ratio. But we've got a tip that you have to try! Pick up a flavored cream cheese to add to your recipe. Garden veggie or garlic and herb cream cheese can take your favorite pasta bake from good to great.

                    What city in Italy is known for gnocchi? ›

                    Gnocchi in Verona

                    While Gnocchi wasn't invented in Verona, the medieval city on the Adige River in northern Italy is certainly the place that's embraced it the most. The dish itself is remarkably simple – just a plate of little soft dough dumplings with a sauce.

                    Is gnocchi Russian or Italian? ›

                    gnocchi, potato dumplings of northeastern Italian origin with dozens of variations, though often served like pasta with a tomato or pesto sauce. Gnocchi (pronounced “NYO-key”) are a longtime culinary tradition in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, where the weather is cool enough to permit potato cultivation.

                    What is the difference between gnocchi and mini gnocchi? ›

                    Mini Potato Gnocchi are a tasty alternative to the classic Potato Gnocchi, a typical, traditional Italian dish. They were created from the original recipe that combines selected potatoes and soft flour, but the difference is they only take 2 minutes to cook.

                    Is there a difference between gnocchi and potato gnocchi? ›

                    Unlike potato gnocchi, Roman gnocchi (Gnocchi alla romana), are made with semolina instead of potatoes and flour, that's why they are also called Semolina gnocchi. Roman gnocchi are shaped differently than potato gnocchi.

                    What Italian pasta is similar to gnocchi? ›

                    Cavatelli is somewhat similar looking to gnocchi. Cavatelli pasta is originally from Molise and Puglia regions. This pasta is popular throughout Southern Italy. Cavatelli is made from three simple ingredients, durum wheat semolina flour, lukewarm water, and just a pinch of salt.

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