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

                    Why is my gnudi falling apart? ›

                    Too much moisture can make the delicate gnudi fall apart, so use a good quality whole-milk ricotta and remove as much moisture as possible.

                    What does "gnudi" mean in Italian? ›

                    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 the difference between gnocchi and gnudi? ›

                    Gnocchi have a starchy base, such as potato or flour, while gnudi are, at their simplest, little more than featherlight clouds of fluffy fresh ricotta, often dressed with nothing fancier than melted butter.

                    Can I freeze gnudi? ›

                    Once gnudi have formed a skin, they can be frozen.

                    How to 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

                    How do you fix crumbly gnocchi dough? ›

                    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.

                    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.

                    What is a gumba in Italian girlfriend? ›

                    Goomah — Mistress or girlfriend. It comes from the Italian comare, which means godmother or second mother. In other words, someone who takes care of you. Goomba — Compatriot or fellow comrade.

                    How do you pronounce gnudi in Italian? ›

                    The “g” is silent in both words; thus, gnocchi is pronounced “nyoh-kee,” while gnudi is pronounced “nyoo-dee” or simply “noo-dee.”

                    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.

                    What is the history of gnudi? ›

                    The origin of the gnudi is ancient ,of course uncertain, handed down from the Tuscan peasant tradition . Probably one of the many gnocchi shaped dish typically cooked with other ingredients before the arrival of the potatoes with the discovery of America.

                    What is a noodie? ›

                    What's a “noodie,” you ask? It's a hoodie without the hood, aka a crewneck sweatshirt.

                    Why can't you freeze gnocchi? ›

                    Keep in mind: You can freeze any type of gnocchi that is prepared. To keep their best texture freeze them uncooked for future cooking. It's an easy way to cook them straight from the freezer to make your favorite gnocchi dish to enjoy for an easy weeknight meal.

                    Can cooked gnudi be frozen? ›

                    Note: If freezing gnudi, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and very lightly sprinkle with flour. Place cut gnudi on baking sheet, making sure the gnudi are not touching each other. Freeze tray until all the gnudi are frozen completely solid, and transfer to a zipper freezer bag.

                    Should I freeze gnocchi before cooking? ›

                    Once they've been formed into dumplings, lay them in a single layer on two baking sheets, cover with cling film and freeze until solid, then transfer to sandwich bags and keep for up to 2 months. You can then boil them in a pan of simmering water straight from frozen until they bob to the surface.

                    What causes dumplings to fall apart? ›

                    5 Common Reasons Dumplings Fall Apart

                    Others can be too wet and sticky and end up tearing. If the filling isn't cohesive enough, it will tumble out when you bite into it. If there's air trapped in the sealed dumpling, it will balloon during cooking, causing an explosive first bite.

                    Why is my gnocchi not staying together? ›

                    Because any added ingredient will add extra moisture to the dough you may have to add more flour and cheese to bind it together. The biggest takeaway from making any type of gnocchi dough is adding just enough flour for the dough to hold together and not too much more.

                    What causes gnocchi to fall apart? ›

                    Gnocchi can disintegrate for a few reasons. You might not have added enough flour or egg, or you may have overboiled them.

                    Why are my pasta shells falling apart? ›

                    The only reason for this happening, is that you cook the pasta shells in too little water and you do not stir as soon as you throw the pasta into the boiling water.

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