Featured Product: Gluten Free Gnocchi

Welcome to this, our first in-depth product feature. The intent of these features is to examine a particular product in detail, describing its characteristics and discussing how best to handle and/or prepare it at home. We will also present one or more recipes using the product featured.

Product Overview

Silly Yaks potato gnocchi is a 100% wheat free, 100% gluten free, 100% peanut free potato gnocchi product. The product is also dairy free, nut free, soy free and yeast free, although it is manufactured in an environment which also processes these ingredients and cannot be guaranteed 100% free of cross-contamination. Silly Yaks potato gnocchi is safe for people with fructose malabsorption allergies.

Our gnocchi is available in three flavours: Plain Potato Gnocchi, Pumpkin & Basil Gnocchi and Sundried Tomato & Chilli Gnocchi. Our gnocchi is not heavily flavoured, with the intention being to create a subtle flavour to the pasta itself so as to compliment, rather than to overpower, the sauce with which it is served. In particular, the Sundried Tomato & Chilli Gnocchi uses only a tiny hint of chilli, to give the gnocchi a slight bite or zestiness rather than a full bodied chilli heat. Despite its name this product is actually quite mild.

Silly Yaks potato gnocchi can be purchased in a 250g single serve pack or in a one kilo catering pack which is ideal for families or those who would like to make a saving by buying in bulk.

For best results, Silly Yaks potato gnocchi should be cooked straight from the freezer without defrosting, as defrosting can damage the texture of the product. It is delicious with a variety of sources, from simple tomato-based napolis to complex, cream-based sources. Some of our favourite combinations include:

• Plain Potato Gnocchi with a simple home-made basil pesto and shaved parmesan cheese;
• Pumpkin and Basil Gnocchi with a tomato-based source, such as Bryn's Napoli with a Hint of Chilli (Recipe below); and
• Sundried Tomato & Chilli Gnocchi with a cream-based sauce such as Alla Funghi or Carbonara.

Full product specifications for the three potato gnocchi varieties can be found here.

Preparation: Hints and Tips

In order to get the best results with Silly Yaks gluten free gnocchi, be aware of the following issues...

Cook From Frozen

Rather then defrosting the product, which can adversely affect the texture and mouth feel of the cooked gnocchi, cook it straight from the freezer:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a vigorous boil;
2. Remove the frozen Silly Yaks gnocchi from the freezer and whack the package sharply on the kitchen bench or other hard surface - this will separate the frozen gnocchi and prevent them from sticking together when they hit the water;
3. Empty the gnocchi out of the package into the boiling water, taking care not to splash yourself with the boiling water;
4. The gnocchi will sink to the bottom of the pot - wait for the gnocchi to rise to the surface of the water;
5. Drain the gnocchi, mix with the sauce and serve.

Do Not Overcook

Silly Yaks gluten free gnocchi only requires minimal cooking - between fifteen and thirty seconds in briskly boiling water is generally enough. When the gnocchi is first dropped into the boiling water it will sink to the bottom. As they cook, the individual gnocchi will rise to the surface of the water and may start to spin around. Once most of the gnocchi have risen to the surface of the boiling water, the gnocchi is cooked. Drain it immediately. Do not allow the cooked gnocchi to remain in the boling water for any length of time or it will soften and become mushy, ruining its texture.

Use Cooked Gnocchi Immediately

Like most gluten free products, Silly Yaks potato gnocchi is more delicate than its wheat-based counterpart. Once cooked, your gnocchi should be consumed as soon as is practical and certainly should not be allowed to cool completely. For best results, the following guidelines should be observed:

• Silly Yaks gluten free gnocchi cannot be par-cooked and then refreshed later by blanching in boiling water - the product will simply disintegrate;
• Silly Yaks gluten free gnocchi is not suitable for re-heating. If it is allowed to cool and then re-heated (especially in a microwave) it will lose its structure and become mushy and without much mouth-feel or texture;
• Silly Yaks gluten free gnocchi should only be cooked in boiling water. It is not suitable for use in pasta bakes or similar recipes.

Recipe: Bryn's Gnocchi Napoli with a Hint of Chilli