Wolf in the Fog's carrot gnocchi

Chef Nick Nutting's recipe for gnocchi with roasted carrots

Chef Nick Nutting Tofino

If you can't make it out to Tofino any time soon to eat at Wolf in the Fog, best new restaurant in Canada on enRoute's list, then making chef Nick Nutting's carrot gnocchi at home may be the next best thing. But, you should probably take a trip soon to see who makes the gnocchi better. We have it on quite good authority that it's Nutting.

Carrot gnocchi

4 russet potatoes, skin pierced with a paring knife
1 heaping tbsp carotene, (see chef’s note below)
1 large egg
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup wild mushrooms, sautéed
1/4 cup carrots, roasted
1/4 cup yellow onion, roasted
1/4 cup gouda cheese
celery leaves, for garnish
fresh chives, thinly sliced, for garnish
2 tbsp unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Bake potatoes in oven for 90 minutes to 2 hours until soft. Rice the potatoes into a medium-sized mixing bowl using a potato ricer (or mash really well if you don’t have a ricer).

Form a well in the centre of the processed potato and combine carotene and egg while the mixture is hot. Mix gently until evenly coloured throughout.

Fold in flour, starting with 2 cups and add more if needed, and mix gently until a soft (but workable) dough is formed.

Form gnocchi by rolling dough into a ½-inch (1cm) thick log and cutting into 1-inch (2.5-cm) cylinders. Blanch the gnocchi in salted water until they float, then leave them floating for another 30 seconds. Reserve on an oiled tray.

To finish, melt butter in a sauté pan over high heat. Add gnocchi and cook until golden. Add sautéed wild mushrooms, pre-roasted carrots and onions.

Top with gouda cheese and gratinée under the broiler. Garnish with celery leaves and chives.

Chef’s note: To make carotene, juice fresh carrots (you need about 8½ cups, or 2 L, of juice). Put juice in a tall pot with a squeeze of lemon juice and bring to a low simmer. The carotene will separate from the clear liquid. Strain through a coffee filter to capture it. Though not ideal, you can do this with store-bought carrot juice.

Yield:
Serves 2-3
Prep Time:
20 minutes
Cook Time:
10 minutes