Dinner: Crispy Gnocchi With Littleneck Clams

Don’t be tempted to disturb the gnocchi when browning—the hands-off approach is key to letting them develop a deep brown color on one side. This recipe is from Oberlin, one of Bon Appétit's Hot 10, America's Best New Restaurants 2016.

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health and fertility benefits of Crispy Gnocchi With Littleneck Clams

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to.

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds russet potatoes (about 4 large), scrubbed
2 pounds littleneck clams, scrubbed
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal or 1 1/2 teaspoons Morton kosher salt, plus more
1 large egg, beaten to blend
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped chives

Instructions

Preheat to 425 °F. Prick potatoes all over with a fork and place directly on oven rack; roast until flesh is very soft when squeezed gently and skin is crisp, 60 –75 minutes. Immediately slice open lengthwise and scoop out flesh; set skins aside. Pass potato flesh through ricer onto a clean work surface. Let cool.
Meanwhile, bring clams, reserved potato skins, and 1 cup water to a boil in a large pot. Cover and cook, shaking pot occasionally, until clams open, 5 –8 minutes; discard any clams that do not open. Pluck clams from shells and place in a medium bowl. Cover and chill until ready to use. Pour clam cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl. Cover and chill until ready to use.
Dust riced potatoes with 3/4 cup flour and sprinkle with 2 tsp. or 1 1/2 tsp. salt. Drizzle egg over, then use a fork or your fingers to gently mix ingredients until just incorporated and a smooth dough forms (be careful not to overwork or cooked gnocchi will be gluey and tough), about 3 minutes. Transfer dough to a pastry bag fitted with 1/2" round tip. (Alternatively, use a large resealable plastic bag and snip off 1 corner.)
Pipe dough onto a lightly floured surface into 24" lengths about 1/2" thick. Cut crosswise into 1/2" pieces and dust lightly with flour. Arrange gnocchi in a single layer on a lightly floured rimmed baking sheet.
Working in 3 batches, cook gnocchi in a large pot of simmering lightly salted water until doubled in size and they float to the top, about 3 minutes (a minute or so more if frozen). Using a slotted spoon, transfer gnocchi to a rimmed baking sheet as they are done cooking. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
Melt a third of the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add one-third of gnocchi to skillet and arrange in a single layer. Cook, undisturbed, until dark brown and crisp underneath, about 5 minutes. Transfer to another rimmed baking sheet. Working in 2 batches, repeat with remaining butter and remaining gnocchi.
Wipe out skillet and heat oil in skillet over medium-high. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 2 minutes. Add clam cooking liquid and 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid and bring to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Add clams, gnocchi, and lemon juice to sauce; season with salt and pepper. Cook, gently tossing and adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed, until sauce coats gnocchi.
Divide gnocchi among bowls and top with chives.

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