Malfatti_BLAD blog - 17

The Italian word Malfatti means “badly shaped” but despite their name, Malfatti are delicious little dumplings made with fresh ricotta cheese and spinach.
This is a typical primo piatto (first course) from Lombardia Region (North Of Italy), but it can be found in other region as Tuscany where Malfatti are called “Gnudi” (Naked).
Easy to make, even easier to eat; toss the Malfatti with browned butter and sage sauce and pair this dish with a dry, full-bodied red wine.

Buon Appetito!!!

Malfatti_BLAD blog - 08

malfatti_ricotta_and_spinach_

Photo by Ale Gambini – BreadLoveAndDreams.com

SERVINGS : 4-6
PREP TIME : 30 min.
COOKING TIME : 2 min.
DIFFICULTY : easy

INGREDIENTS

12 oz spinach, boiled and squeezed dry

9 oz fresh ricotta cheese

1.5 cups Béchamel sauce

1 egg

1.5 cups Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese, grated

1.5 cups breadcrumbs

For The Béchamel Sauce

4 tbsp unsalted butter

4 tbsp flour 00

2 cups whole milk, warm

1 pinch salt

1 pinch ground nutmeg

 

DIRECTIONS

Prepare the Béchamel Sauce by heating the butter until it melts, then remove from heat and  add the flour, whisking until smooth. Pour in the warm milk little by little, whisking continuously until well combined. Return to a boil, add nutmeg, salt and stir until thickened. Set aside.

Chop the spinach and place them in a large mixing bowl.

Add the ricotta cheese and mix until just combined.

Add the Béchamel sauce, the egg, the grated Parmigiano Reggiano and the breadcrumbs. Mix thoroughly until well combined.

Flour a work surface, then divide the dough into golf-sized balls. Roll each balls into a log (1 inch thick) then cut each log into dumplings about 1 inch wide.

Bring to a boil a large pot of salted water, then gently dump in the Malfatti and cook until they rise to the top (about 2 minutes).

Drain the Malfatti with a slotted spoon.

Toss the Malfatti with your favorite sauce or condiment and serve sprinkled with grated Parmigiano Reggiano.

 

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