Gnocchi Alla Romana

"In contrast to those common nugget-shaped gnocchi made from potatoes, the traditional recipe for Gnocchi alla Romana features slab-like dumplings made from semolina flour. These unique gnocchi are typically prepared like a gratin, layered in a baking dish with a cheesy sauce. In admiration of those innovators who created this Italian classic, we’ve done a little tradition-twisting of our own in the creation of Trader Joe’s Gnocchi Alla Romana. The package includes four, drum-shaped, Cheesy Semolina Gratins made from durum wheat semolina flour, and enriched with butter, Grana Padano PDO cheese (the real deal!), and egg yolks. These relatively “giant” Gnocchi are rich and silky, with a savory seasoning of sea salt, sage, and nutmeg. Instead of appearing layered together in a baking dish, each of the four Gnocchi is cradled in its own paper cup, like a cheesy, buttery cupcake. To enjoy, one needs only to heat one or more Gnocchi in the microwave (1-4 minutes), or conventional oven (about 20 minutes). But when to enjoy Trader Joe’s Gnocchi Alla Romana? We recommend pairing these Cheesy Semolina Gratins with a bowl of steaming soup, or a fresh green salad. They also make an easy and pleasing side dish next to just about any protein, such as our Braised Beef Roast with Demi Glace. Or... you could become the next innovator with your own distinct pairing!"