Karen Martini's mac and cheese-style gnocchi

Name: Karen Martini's mac and cheese-style gnocchi
Cook time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Ingredients: 800ml milk; 15g bonito flakes*; 500g store-bought gnocchi; 60g butter; 1 onion, finely diced; 5 garlic cloves, finely sliced; salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper; 60g plain flour; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 100ml cream; 100g Grana Padano cheese, finely grated; 150g aged cheddar, coarsely grated; 4 spring onions, white and green parts, finely sliced; 2 handfuls of breadcrumbs

Karen Martini

August 28, 2020

easyTime:30 mins - 1 hourServes:4

Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Swapping the pasta for gnocchi means things are that bit cosier. Making gnocchi at home isn't hard once you're used to it, but decent commercial gnocchi has its place. Homemade gnocchi will be light, fluffy and delicate, while the store-bought version will typically be a firmer dumpling, which is better for a dish like this.

Ingredients

800ml milk
15g bonito flakes*
500g store-bought gnocchi
60g butter
1 onion, finely diced
5 garlic cloves, finely sliced
salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
60g plain flour
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
100ml cream
100g Grana Padano cheese, finely grated
150g aged cheddar, coarsely grated
4 spring onions, white and green parts, finely sliced
2 handfuls of breadcrumbs

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C fan-forced (200C conventional).
2. Add the milk and bonito flakes to a small saucepan and heat until just under a simmer. Turn off the heat and allow to infuse for 15 minutes, then strain. Keep the milk warm.
3. Cook the gnocchi in plenty of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions, then drain and place in a large bowl.
4. While the gnocchi cooks, melt the butter in a medium saucepan and over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
5. Add the flour and stir through for a minute or so to cook out the raw flavour. Pour in the warm milk, whisking as you do. Add the mustard and cook, whisking continuously, until the sauce has thickened and is free of lumps, about 2 minutes.
6. Add the cream, both cheeses and the spring onion, then whisk until combined. Season, then tip into the bowl with the gnocchi. Stir through.
7. Tip the gnocchi mix into a ceramic baking dish, top with the breadcrumbs and bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden and bubbling. Serve with some dressed salad leaves.
*The bonito may seem an odd inclusion, but it adds a smoky, salty, umami-laden character that knits in beautifully.