Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (2024)

Published May 13, 2020.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This delicious recipe for gnudi are tasty ricotta cheese dumplings loaded up with spinach and parmesan cheese and are served with Pomodoro sauce.

If you’re a big dumpling fan, then these are definitely for you. They’re absolutely delicious, easy to make, and very similar to the ones I use in my chicken dumpling soup that I make a few times a year.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (1)

Gnudi

Gnudi are a tasty Tuscan, Italian favorite consisting of ricotta dough balls that got its name from the English word “nudi,” or naked. Often times called naked ravioli, gnudi is essentially the stuffing that goes into the ravioli.

These are incredibly easy to prepare and cook in only minutes making them a great weeknight meal or even an appetizer. These go a long way and will fill you up quickly.

What’s the Difference Between Gnocchi and Gnudi?

While the texture and cooking method is the same, gnocchi is quite a bit different than gnudi. The biggest contrast between the two is in the ingredients.

  • Gnocchi: potatoes, flour, and eggs
  • Gnudi: ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, eggs, and flour

Spinach Gnudi

Classically these are made with spinach and are known as Spinaci di Gnudi. Occasionally you will see them without spinach and will be called ricotta gnocchi or a ricotta dumpling. While most recipes call for frozen spinach, I find it better and fresher to cook baby spinach and use it in this recipe.

How to Make It

Follow these easy to follow instructions with step by step images for how to make gnudi:

Cook the spinach in boiling water, strain, and cool over a bowl in the refrigerator until chilled.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (2)

Drain as much liquid off of whole milk ricotta cheese as possible in a colander.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (3)

Squeeze as much liquid as possible from the cooked and cooled spinach, and then finely mince it, and mix it together with the ricotta, parmesan cheese, eggs, salt, and pepper until combined.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (4)

Gradually add in the flour until the dough tightens up but is still a bit sticky.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (5)

Scoop out 3-4 tablespoons of the dough and roll them around in the flour to make a small ball.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (6)

Boil them in some salted water for 4 to 5 minutes or until they float to the top and serve.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (7)

How to Serve It

Traditionally these would be served with some browned sage butter, similar to gnocchi. I personally find them absolutely delicious when served alongside a very simple tomato Pomodoro sauce. It’s just like eating ravioli without all of the dough and it is so good.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: While they are best eaten immediately, you can make these up to 1 day ahead of time. Simply reheat right before serving.

How to Reheat: Place them in a pot of boiling salted water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. You can also cook on a microwave-safe plate until hot.

How to Store: Cover and place in the refrigerator for 4 days. These will freeze excellently covered for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (8)

chef notes + tips

  • You can absolutely swap out fresh baby spinach for cooked frozen spinach that has been thawed.
  • Make sure the water for boiling the gnudi is at a very low boil as it can cause them to break apart.
Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (9)

More Italian Recipes

  • Chicken Cacciatore
  • Pasta Carbonara
  • Bucatini All’Amatriciana
  • Wedding Soup
  • Cioppino

Be sure to follow me onFacebook,Youtube,Instagram,andPinterest,and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (10)

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Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe

Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (11)

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5 from 12 votes

This delicious recipe for gnudi are tasty ricotta cheese dumplings loaded up with spinach and parmesan cheese and are served with Pomodoro sauce.

Servings: 30

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh baby spinach
  • 1 ½ pounds whole milk ricotta
  • 1 ¼ cups grated parmesan cheese
  • 6 large eggs
  • 3 ½ cups 00 or all-purpose flour
  • Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
  • ½ Pomodoro recipe

Instructions

  • Add the baby spinach to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until wilted.

  • Run the spinach under cold water and chill in the strainer over a bowl in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

  • Next, add the ricotta cheese to a strainer in a bowl and drain off as much liquid from the cheese as possible, which takes about 10 minutes.

  • Remove the baby spinach from the refrigerator and finely mince it and add to a large bowl along with the ricotta, parmesan, eggs, salt, and pepper until completely combined.

  • Add in the flour and mix to form a sticky dough. You may need to add in a bit more or use a bit less as it is more about feel than anything.

  • Scoop out about 3-4 tablespoons and roll them around in a small bowl of flour to coat and then roll them in your hand to form a ball. Repeat until all the dough has been rolled and set aside.

  • Cooking in batches add them to a large pot of boiling salted water for 4-5 minutes or until they float to the top.

  • Serve them with hot Pomodoro sauce with optional garnishes of grated parmesan cheese and basil leaves.

Notes

Chef Notes:

  • Make-Ahead: While they are best eaten immediately, you can make these up to 1 day ahead of time. Simply reheat right before serving.
  • How to Reheat: Place them in a pot of boiling salted water and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. You can also cook on a microwave-safe plate until hot.
  • How to Store: Cover and place in the refrigerator for 4 days. These will freeze excellently covered for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.
  • You can absolutely swap out fresh baby spinach for cooked frozen spinach that has been thawed.
  • Make sure the water for boiling the gnudi is at a very low boil as it can cause them to break apart.

Nutrition

Calories: 127kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 7gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 108mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1602IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 115mgIron: 1mg

Course: Appetizer, entree, Main

Cuisine: Italian

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26 comments

    • Constance Ruggieri

    Instead of boiling them, I deep fried them in hot EEVO till they were light brown and very crispy. Drained them and served them with a light pomidoro sauce. Delicioso!

    • Reply
      • Chef Billy Parisi

      Thanks!

      • Reply
    • Eileen
    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (12)

    A little fresh minced garlic perhaps?
    I think the gnudi with pomodoro was stellar!

    • Reply
    • Cecilia A O’Shaughnessy
    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (13)

    so yummy, worth the little bit of work that goes into them. freeze ok too.

    • Reply
    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (14)

        yes indeed!

        • Reply
      • Sarah BG
      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (15)

      Watched the video and was skeptical these would taste good at all, in part because I had never heard of gnudi before. Made them to test them out…they are divine! Such a great and light appetizer. Plus the instructions for storing/freezer and reheating (because the recipe makes a lot which is awesome) is a breeze!

      • Reply
      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (16)

          thanks for giving it a shot!!

          • Reply
        • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (18)

            appreciate you trying it

            • Reply
          • Teresa McCarthy
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (19)

          This was easy and impressive! Delicious!

          • Reply
          • Teresa McCarthy
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (20)

          Easy and delicious

          • Reply
          • Talaena Marven
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (21)

          Addicted! Made the pomodoro sauce for them…so good. I was bit messy making them but I can be a messy kid sometimes…I think I will have a better way about it next time…because there is definitely going to be a next time.

          • Reply
          • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (22)

              They’re tasty!

              • Reply
            • Pamela Lareau
            • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (23)

            Fresh and delicious!! Made this for special friends & it’s a keeper!!

            • Reply
            • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (24)

                Thank you

                • Reply
              • Aldo
              • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (25)

              Unbelievably delizioso

              • Reply
              • Donna

              Looks delish…I am sure homemade ricotta would be just fine in this???

              • Reply
              • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (26)

                  yes

                  • Reply
                • Anne

                How many servings is this recipe?

                • Reply
                • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (27)

                    Makes 30 gnudi.

                    • Reply
                  • Bonnie

                  Chef,
                  Is draining the spinach enough or must you squeeze it dry?

                  • Reply
                  • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (28)

                      squeeze it as best you can.

                      • Reply
                    • Tom
                    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (29)

                    Great Recipe. Can they be frozen prior to cooking or cooked first?

                    • Reply
                    • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (30)

                        cooked first

                        • Reply
                      • CHARLENE LAFONTAINE
                      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (31)

                      Chef Parisi these look so good. Was wondering what I was going to make for my dinner tonight. Problem solved. I have so much ricotta right now and was trying to come up with different ways to use it up without becoming boring. Definitely will be freezing some of these.👍👍👍👍

                      • Reply
                      • Rehab
                      • Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (32)

                      Looks delicious, Thank you for sharing this! Thank you chef Billy.

                      • Reply
                    Easy Italian Gnudi Recipe (2024)
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