Fresh Ricotta Gnocchi

Instructions

For Gnocchi

1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and dust with semolina flour. Set aside.
2. Discard any excess water from the ricotta. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmigiano, eggs, and 1 teaspoon salt with a whisk. Sprinkle the whole wheat and all-purpose flours over the top and with a rubber spatula, gently fold in the flours until the dough comes together in a ball. Cut off one-quarter of it.
3. Dust a work surface with flour to prevent sticking. With your hands, roll the cut-off piece of dough into a log, about 1/2 inch in diameter. Cut the log into 1/2-inch pieces. Repeat with the rest of the dough, one quarter section at a time.
4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Heat sauce in a separate saucepan until hot but not simmering. Add the gnocchi to the salted water, stir gently, and cook until the gnocchi float for 30 seconds, about 3 minutes total. Drain the gnocchi, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, and add gnocchi to the sauce. Raise the heat on the sauce to near boiling, stirring the gnocchi gently. Add some of the reserved pasta water to thin the sauce to desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Drizzle sauce with olive oil and a handful of chopped fresh herbs. Transfer to a large serving plate. Sprinkle with more herbs, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and a drizzle of more olive oil. Serve immediately.

For Fresh Ricotta Cheese

1. Pour the milk into a 4-quart pot over medium-high heat. Heat until the milk reaches 190-200°F, monitoring the temperature with an instant read thermometer (if not using a thermometer, the milk will just begin to bubble and get foamy–be careful not to boil). Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the lemon juice. Let the pot sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. Curds should develop on the surface. Stir the pot.
2. Line a strainer with cheese cloth. Using a ladle, skim the large curds on the surface into the strainer. Dip a slotted spoon or small strainer scoop into the cloudy whey and retrieve as many curds as you can catch; place them in the strainer. Slowly pour and discard the remaining whey, collecting any remaining curds and placing them in the strainer as you go.
3. Let the ricotta drain for at least one hour (or overnight, in the refrigerator, if making gnocchi). Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.