Cottage Cheese Gnudi with Marinara Sauce (Excessive Protein)

Cottage cheese gnudi are gentle, pillowy dumplings—like the country cousin of gnocchi—made with cottage cheese as a substitute of the normal ricotta for additional protein. “Gnudi” means “nude” in Italian, referring to how these are primarily ravioli filling with out the pasta.

Cottage Cheese Gnudi

Historically made with ricotta, gnudi are gentle, 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 together 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 essential or a hearty aspect together with your go-to protein.

Why This Recipe Works

Should you’ve been round for some time, you understand how a lot I 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 properly on this gnudi recipe that I didn’t inform Tommy at first. Fortunately, he cherished them, even after I instructed him.

• Excessive-Protein: In comparison with ricotta, cottage cheese presents extra protein and is commonly extra inexpensive with out compromising on its creamy, melt-in- your-mouth texture.
• Easy Substances: With just some pantry staples, you get a dish that feels fancy however is straightforward sufficient for a weeknight.
• Versatile & Meal-Prep Pleasant: These gnudi pair properly with quite a lot of sauces, reheat superbly, and may even be frozen for later.
• Child-Accredited Consolation Meals: Comfortable, tacky, and sauce-friendly—my youngsters cherished them (and yours would possibly, 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 gentle dumplings created from potatoes, eggs, and flour. The gnocchi dough is shaped right into a rope after which minimize into one-inch items. I’ve a number of variations on my website, together with basic potato gnocchi with hen in a roasted crimson 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 like the way it turned out with cottage cheese for a protein enhance.

The right way to Make Cottage Cheese Gnudi

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

1. Make the Gnudi 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 will likely 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 evenly 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 in order that they don’t disintegrate 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. Prepare 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

• Cheese: Swap parmesan with Pecorino Romano.
• Ricotta: You possibly can, after all, change cottage cheese with ricotta. Should you do, skip the blender step.
• Gluten-free Gnudi: Substitute AP flour with 1:1 gluten-free flour, like Cup4Cup.

What’s the very best sauce for cottage cheese gnudi?

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

Serving Recommendations

• 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.
• Increase the Protein: Add diced hen breasts or shrimp to the marinara to make it much more filling. This recipe requires loads of sauce, so that you’ll have additional to coat the protein. Nonetheless, if you’re consuming the gnudi by itself, you can also make much less sauce.
• As a Facet Dish: Serve these Air Fryer Pork Chops or Broiled Tilapia Fillets as the principle 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, take a look at these 5 scrumptious cottage cheese recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!

Should you make this wholesome cottage cheese gnudi recipe, I might like to see it. Tag me in your photographs or movies on Instagram, TikTok, or Fb! And make sure to be part of the Skinnytaste Group to see what everybody’s cooking!