Gnocchi alla Romana (semolina gnocchi)

Gnocchi alla Romana are different from the gnocchi you may be more familiar with as these are made from semolina and cut in rounds. They have all the same comfort factor, though, if not more, with a lovely soft texture and crisp, cheesy top. 

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Gnocchi have long been a favorite meal in our house. In fact they were one of the first things my eldest became obsessed with and would out-eat us on at a young age. These days, other things have taken top spot in the favorites list. But classic potato, acorn squash gnocchi and beet gnocchi all appear on the menu fairly regularly. 

Somehow, though, it took me forever to make these semolina gnocchi. Though in fairness, they are far less well known. Which is definitely a shame as they are pure comfort food deliciousness.

What are the origins of gnocchi alla Romana?

"Alla Romana" means "in the Roman style" as these gnocchi come from Rome. In fact it's not just the city of Rome but these are the evolution of the gnocchi made during the Roman Empire. This means they pre-date the arrival of potatoes into Europe and so are older than what we now consider 'regular' gnocchi. 

This traditional Italian dish is not your typical Roman dish since it uses a decent amount of butter. However, it does fit with the relatively simple dishes you'll find in the area that are classic 'cucina povera'. You only need a few ingredients and the result is filling and so tasty.

What is gnocchi alla Romana made of?

As mentioned, these are also known as semolina gnocchi as they are made with semolina. Semolina is made from durum wheat which is a slightly yellow, hard form of wheat. It's common in the Mediterranean region and you'll find it particularly used in Italian and North African cooking.

Semolina flour is popular for making pasta as well as some breads in Italy. It has a lovely slightly nutty flavor and while it comes in finer and coarser grinds, it tends to have a slightly coarser feel either way.

Along with semolina flour, you make these with milk, eggs, butter and cheese. You season them with a little salt and sometimes a small amount of nutmeg, though not always. 

Making semolina gnocchi

You need a little time to make these but it's an easy process. You first form a thick paste with butter-enriched milk and semolina flour, add some parmesan cheese for flavor then after thickening it up, let it cool to firm up.

Traditionally, you pour the mixture out into a relatively thin layer. This is both the thickness of the end slices, but also means there is plenty surface area to help it cool, dry slightly and firm up more quickly.

You then cut circles from the layer for the next step. An alternative method is to form a log with the mixture and cut slices from it. This means less waste, but you tend to need it a little firmer before cooling as there's less surface area as it cools. 

Once you cut thin slices, using either method, you place the circles in a baking dish. Lightly butter the dish before you add the pieces to help avoid them sticking. Arrange them so they are slightly overlapping in a single layer.

Then cover them generously with more cheese and some butter and bake or grill them until the top is gently golden brown and crisp. I find they are often best baked to ensure they warm through more evenly, but both ways work. 

How to serve these

These semolina gnocchi are relatively rich with all that butter and cheese, but they do taste surprisingly light. Clearly not as light as a bunch of greens, but maybe similar to mac 'n' cheese, which it does have some similarities to.

In Italy, these are typically a "primo" or first course. That's the course that falls between an appetizer (which may be a salad, for example) and the second course, which is typically meat or fish. Pasta is a common primo, so these would be an alternative.

If you're more inclined to make a larger plate, then these can also work as the main component, maybe with some light sides like salad or green vegetables, for example. You could also serve them as a side to meats and stews. Some slow braised meat would pair pretty well, for example. 

Can you freeze gnocchi alla Romana?

These freeze surprisingly well so you might find yourself making extra to do so. Just make them as far as placing them in the baking dish, topped with cheese, then cover and freeze. Try to have it well sealed, for example with foil over the top then in a freezer bag or with a lid on top. When ready to use, just uncover and bake in the oven from frozen. It will need a few more minutes to cook and brown, but only 5 or so more.

You can also re-heat cooked semolina gnocchi - just warm in a medium-low oven for a few minutes until heated through. They will be slightly more dense when re-heated compared to fresh, but otherwise the texture is still pretty good (and they're still very tasty!)

Gnocchi alla Romana may be a lesser known traditional Italian dish, but it's definitely one that's worth getting to know. It may take a couple steps, but they are easy to make with only a handful of ingredients. The result is pure comfort food, with a lovely mix of soft semolina gnocchi and cheesy goodness. So tasty, it will become a new favorite.

Try these other comforting dishes:

• Creamy chard pesto baked orzo
• Harira (Moroccan lentil and chickpea soup/stew)
• Ricotta and spinach gnudi
• Short rib beef udon
• Plus get more Italian recipes and mains recipes in the archives.

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