GOAT CHEESE GNOCCHI #Ragu

Name: GOAT CHEESE GNOCCHI #Ragu
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 3 LBS, 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2 1/2 lbs russet potatoes (about 4 large); 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting; 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1 egg, beaten to blend; 1/4 cup goat cheese, room temp; 1/2 lb Italian sausage; 1 (14 ounce) jar Ragú® Pasta Sauce (tomato basil); 1 cup breadcrumbs (or 1/2 loaf french bread, toasted and crumbled); 1 tablespoon garlic; 1 teaspoon dried basil; 1 teaspoon oregano; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 3 tablespoons butter; 1/2 cup parmesan cheese; 2 sprigs fresh thyme

Submitted by Amy H.

"Ragú® Recipe Contest Entry. Garlic & Herb Breadcrumbs, Crispy Italian Sausage, Parmesan Reggiano, Tomato Basil Ragu"

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photo by Amy H.

Ready In:: 1hr 15mins
Ingredients:: 15
Yields:: 3 LBS
Serves:: 4

ingredients

2 ¹⁄₂ lbs russet potatoes (about 4 large)
1 ¹⁄₄ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 egg, beaten to blend
¹⁄₄ cup goat cheese, room temp
¹⁄₂ lb Italian sausage
1 (14 ounce) jar Ragú® Pasta Sauce (tomato basil)
1 cup breadcrumbs (or 1/2 loaf french bread, toasted and crumbled)
1 tablespoon garlic
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon oregano
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
¹⁄₂ cup parmesan cheese
2 sprigs fresh thyme

directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Cook the potatoes in a large pot of boiling water over medium high until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 30-40 minutes; drain. (Be sure to not overcook as they will absorb more water as they cook.) As soon as potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel and pass through a potato ricer into a large bowl (if they cool before ricing, potatoes will become gummy). Let cool.
Mix the garlic, oregano, basil, olive oil, butter, salt, pepper with the breadcrumbs and put in the oven to slowly crisp up; about 10-12 minutes. While those are cooking take your Italian sausage and crumble into hot saute pan with oil on medium heat until crispy.
Once the potatoes are cooled, sprinkle 1¼ cups flour and 2 teaspoon salt over potatoes. Using your hands, make a well in the center. Pour the egg into the well and stir in with a wooden spoon. Mix in goat cheese. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and gently knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until smooth but not elastic (be careful not to overwork), about 2 minutes. Divide dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a 24"-long rope about ½" thick. Cut into ½" pieces, dust with flour, and arrange in a single layer on a lightly floured rimmed baking sheet.
Cook the gnocchi in a large pot of boiling salted water until they float to the surface (about a minute or two; cook to just a minute before they are fully cooked. You can also make the gnocchi ahead of time and place them in the freezer. Then take them out when it comes time to sear them off).
Meanwhile, using a slotted spoon, gently spoon out the gnocchi and place in a hot pan with butter or oil to give them a hard sear doing different batches being careful not to crowd the pan. Heat up the Ragu sauce in another saucepan, once heated, spoon onto each plate and put the gnocchi on top. Top off gnocchi with more sauce and garnish with crispy sausage, parmesan, breadcrumbs and fresh thyme.