There’s some key techniques required to create classic Italian dishes, but with these handy steps and tips, you’ll soon master them.
Three Cheese Tortellini
- Roll dough: Run dough through a pasta machine. Fold dough, horizontally and vertically, and continue to run it through the machine, until dough is paper thin, semi-translucent and smooth.
- Fill: Place filling in a piping bag and pipe around 1 teaspoon into the centre of each pasta circle.
- Fold: Brush egg wash on one half of the pasta circle, then fold over to create a half-moon shape. Press edges together to seal.
- Shape: Push the pasta inwards slightly at the filling, bring the edges together and pinch them closed.
Chef’s tip: Work in small batches and keep pasta under a damp paper towel until ready to fill.
Risotto
- Sauté onions: Sweat onions over a medium heat until they are translucent.
- Toast rice: In oil, heat the rice until it becomes slightly translucent. This takes 2-5 minutes.
- Add stock: Introduce stock, a ladle at a time, wait for it to absorb before adding more. Shake the pan to keep the rice moving and release the starch.
- Perfect the texture: The risotto should be creamy with a texture similar to rice pudding. The rice should be al dente, still with some bite.
Chef's tip: Partially cook the rice prior to service, transfer the rice to a tray to cool down and reserve in fridge until service, when cooking can be finished.
Gnocchi
- Make mash: Boil the water and remove from heat, whisk in Knorr Mashed Potato and then rest for 2 mins. Use a spatula to bring mash together.
- Make dough: Combine warm mash with choux pastry mix and cheese.
- Knead & roll dough: Knead the dough while it’s warm, but don’t overwork it. Portion dough and then roll into thin logs.
- Shape gnocchi: Cut the log into small pillow-shaped pieces, and press a finger into the centre of each piece. Place in a floured tray.
- Cook gnocchi: Cook the gnocchi in a pan of simmering water until the gnocchi floats to the top.
Chef’s tip: We’ve added a twist to the gnocchi by combining the mash with choux pastry and cheese, but flour and eggs can also be used with the mash.
