To make the Gnocchi…
Scrub and boil the Potatoes (whole is best) until just cooked (but not soggy – which is important)
(Peel and) mash them when still hot (you can put them through a potato ricer if you have one)
Again, while still hot, add the Flour and Egg and mix by hand into a dough (quickly)
Roll out into long sausage and cut into pieces of Gnocchi
[Some people make fancy shapes with theirs, but I'm always running slightly late so mine tend to be fairly square...]
Sprinkle the Gnocchi with Semolina, or Rice Flour (or just Flour I reckon) and leave, maybe in the fridge, until you want to cook them
To cook the Gnocchi – put them into very boisterously boiling water (carefully!). When they are cooked, they’ll bob up to the surface – and you can lift them out with a slotted spoon
I prefer to fry the Gnocchi a bit before serving them – it adds a slight crunch, and is not particularly unhealthy if you use good quality Olive Oil. Put them into a hot pan with a little Oil and give them a few minutes on each side (letting a slight crust form before turning)
To make the Nettle Sauce…
Finely dice a small Onion and chop or crush the Garlic
Pick your Stinging Nettles before they flower and preferably when they’re not 6 foot tall (ie younger!). Most importantly pick them with rubber gloves on (they’ll definitely sting otherwise). You only need the leaves – not the stalks
Wash them (still with rubber gloves on) and then put them in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Drain after 30 seconds or so, and immediately put into ice or very cold water (so they keep their colour). Leave the Nettle Leaves like this until you want to cook them, in which case drain them, squeeze all the liquid out (give them a really good squeeze – they won’t sting now!), and finely slice them
Wash and chop your Fresh Herbs
Heat a pan with some Olive Oil. Add the chopped Onion for a few ( 5 ) minutes, until soft. Then add the Garlic and Anchovies for a couple of minutes (to cook but not burn the Garlic, maybe 1 or 2 minutes?!)… Next, add the chopped Nettles (I added some ropey looking broccoli sprigs from the garden too), and a splash of Wine. Stir over a reasonable heat until the alcohol has cooked off, and the sauce is fragrant
Add the Fresh Herbs just before serving the Sauce over the fried Gnocchi… A Roasted Red Pepper or two (and / or Roasted Tomatoes) is a great addition to an already delicious and healthy supper