Gnocchi (
pronounced ['??kki] in Italian; singular "gnocco") is the Italian name for a variety of
dumpling. They may be made from
potato,
semolina, ordinary
wheat flour, bread crumbs, or other ingredients. Outside Italy, the most popular form is based on potatoes.
The word gnocco is slang for 'lump'. In Roman times, gnocchi were made from a semolina porridge-like dough mixed with eggs, and are still found in similar forms today, particularly in Sardinia. One variety, gnocchi di pane, popular in the Friuli and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol regions, is made from bread crumbs.
Gnocchi are eaten as entrées ('primi piatti') in Italy and are considered as "minestre" (lit. 'soups'), along with pasta.
Gnocchi are widely available dried, frozen, or fresh in vacuum sealed packages in supermarkets and Italian speciality stores. Classic accompaniments of gnocchi include tomato sauces, pesto, and melted butter with cheese.
