Cottage Cheese Gnudi with Marinara Sauce (Excessive Protein)

Cottage cheese gnudi are tender, pillowy dumplings—like the country cousin of gnocchi—made with cottage cheese as an alternative of the standard ricotta for further protein. “Gnudi” means “nude” in Italian, referring to how these are primarily ravioli filling with out the pasta.

Gnudi

Historically made with ricotta, gnudi are tender, delicate dumplings that style like the within of ravioli, minus the pasta. On this model, I exploit cottage cheese for a high-protein, budget-friendly swap that also delivers on taste and texture. The dumplings are gently simmered till tender, then tossed along with your favourite sauce.
I went with marinara, however they’re simply pretty much as good with brown butter and sage or a easy drizzle of olive oil. Serve them as a vegetarian important or a hearty aspect along with your go-to protein.

Why This Gnudi Recipe Works

For those who’ve been round for some time, you understand how a lot I really like utilizing cottage cheese so as to add protein to my recipes, like my cottage cheese bagels, cottage cheese lasagna, and cottage cheese frittata. Swapping ricotta for cottage cheese labored out so nicely on this gnudi recipe that I didn’t inform Tommy at first. Fortunately, he liked them, even after I instructed him.

• Excessive-Protein: In comparison with ricotta, cottage cheese gives extra protein and is usually extra reasonably priced with out compromising on its creamy, melt-in- your-mouth texture.
• Easy Components: With only a few pantry staples, you get a dish that feels fancy however is straightforward sufficient for a weeknight.
• Versatile & Meal-Prep Pleasant: These gnudi pair nicely with quite a lot of sauces, reheat fantastically, and might even be frozen for later.
• Child-Permitted Consolation Meals: Gentle, tacky, and sauce-friendly—my children liked them (and yours may, too!).
• Dietary Restrictions: Weight Watchers-friendly, vegetarian, gluten-free (if utilizing GF flour), high-protein

What’s the distinction between gnudi and gnocchi?

Gnocchi are tender dumplings produced from potatoes, eggs, and flour. The gnocchi dough is fashioned right into a rope after which reduce into one-inch items. I’ve a number of variations on my website, together with basic potato gnocchi with hen in a roasted pink pepper sauce, zucchini gnocchi, and cauliflower gnocchi.

Conventional gnudi, which interprets to “bare” in Italian, mimics the filling of cheese ravioli. It’s normally made with ricotta cheese and flour, however I really like the way it turned out with cottage cheese for a protein increase.

The right way to Make Gnudi

Right here’s a step-by-step information for learn how to make this straightforward cottage cheese gnudi recipe at house. See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.

1. Make the Dough: Mix the cottage cheese in a small meals processor or blender till easy, in order that it resembles the smoothness of ricotta. Switch it to a bowl and stir within the parmesan, egg yolk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Combine in ¾ cup of flour. The dough shall be sticky, but when it’s not holding collectively, add extra flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.
2. Type the Gnudi: Coat your fingers with flour earlier than forming about 36 small gnudi. Place them on a calmly floured rimmed baking sheet (or line it with parchment paper). When completed, refrigerate the tray for half-hour (Chilling them will assist them maintain their form so that they don’t collapse within the
   water.)
3. Whereas the gnudi chill, put together the marinara (or warmth the jarred sauce on the range) and produce a big pot of salted water to a boil.
4. Cook dinner the gnudi within the boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes till they float to the highest. Utilizing a slotted spoon, take away the gnudi from the water and add them to the sauce.

Variations

• Ricotta: You possibly can, in fact, exchange cottage cheese with ricotta. For those who do, skip the blender step.
• Gluten-free Gnudi: Substitute AP flour with 1:1 gluten-free flour, like Cup4Cup.

Sauce Choices

Any pasta sauce—not simply marinara—would work. Listed below are a few of my favorites:

Serving Ideas

• Maintain It Easy: Pair this high-protein gnudi with a inexperienced salad and a very good piece of crusty bread for a hearty vegetarian meal.
• Enhance the Protein: Add sausage or floor beef to the marinara to make it much more filling. This recipe requires loads of sauce, so that you’ll have further to coat the protein. Nonetheless, in case you are consuming the gnudi by itself, you can also make much less sauce.
• As a Facet Dish: Serve these Turkey Meatballs or Grilled Hen Breasts as the primary course with the gnudi on the aspect.

Meal Prep Suggestions

• Make Forward: Cowl the tray and refrigerate as much as 24 hours earlier than cooking.
• The right way to Freeze Uncooked Gnudi: Place them on a parchment-lined sheet pan and flash freeze. As soon as frozen, switch the gnudi to an hermetic container or zip-locked bag and freeze for 3 months. To cook dinner, boil the frozen gnudi for an additional minute.

Storage

• Refrigerate the leftovers for as much as 4 days. Heat in a skillet on the range or within the microwave.
• The right way to Freeze Cooked Gnudi: Freeze the gnudi and sauce in individual- serving containers for 3 months.
• Reheating: Thaw in a single day within the fridge and reheat within the microwave or on the range.

Extra Cottage Cheese Recipes You’ll Love

For extra dinner concepts utilizing cottage cheese, try these 5 scrumptious cottage cheese recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!