Gnocchi alla Romana (Baked Semolina Cheese Rounds)
Pasta Medium

Gnocchi alla Romana (Baked Semolina Cheese Rounds)

Quick answer

Total time
50 min
Level
Medium
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
7

About this dish

Gnocchi alla Romana are not boiled potato dumplings.

Read more

Semolina is cooked in milk, cooled in an even 1.5 cm sheet, cut into rounds, and baked under butter and cheese. Combine 500 ml milk, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 20 g butter in a saucepan. Heat over medium until steam rises and the edges begin to tremble, without bringing the milk to a hard boil. Lower the heat and pour in 150 g semolina in a thin, steady stream while whisking continuously for 1 minute. Reach into the bottom and corners so no dry pockets harden into lumps. Switch to a sturdy spatula and continue stirring over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat when the mixture pulls cleanly from the sides and gathers into a thick, smooth mass. While it remains hot, quickly mix in 2 egg yolks and part of the 80 g Parmigiano Reggiano. Continuous mixing prevents the residual heat from scrambling the yolks into separate pieces. Spread the dough across a tray at a uniform 1.5 cm thickness and smooth the top. Let it cool completely until firm; cutting while warm tears the sheet and leaves rough edges. Stamp out rounds and overlap them in a buttered baking dish. Distribute the remaining 20 g butter and Parmigiano over the surface. Bake at 200C for 15 minutes, then broil for about 3 minutes, stopping when the raised edges and cheese are golden and crisp.

Ingredients

servings
IngredientAmountUnit
Milk500 mlmlShop
Semolina150 ggShop
Salt1 tsptspShop
Nutmeg¼ tsptspShop
Shop All Ingredients

As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.

6 steps
  1. 1
    Control

    Combine 500 ml milk, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 20 g butter in a saucepan.

    Heat over medium heat until steam rises and the edges just begin to tremble, without letting the milk boil hard.

  2. 2
    Step

    Lower the heat and pour in 150 g semolina in a thin, steady stream.

    Whisk without stopping for about 1 minute, scraping the bottom and corners so the grains hydrate evenly and do not clump.

  3. 3
    Control

    Switch to a spatula and cook over low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring firmly.

    Turn off the heat when the dough pulls from the sides of the pan and gathers into a thick, smooth mass.

  4. 4
    Prep

    Off the heat, mix in the egg yolks and part of the 80 g Parmigiano Reggiano while the dough is still hot.

    Stir quickly and evenly so the residual heat enriches the dough without scrambling the yolks.

  5. 5
    Prep

    Spread the dough on a tray to an even 1.5 cm thickness and smooth the surface.

    Let it cool completely until firm, because warm dough tears and gives rough edges when cut into rounds.

  6. 6
    Heat

    Overlap the rounds in a buttered baking dish and top with the remaining butter and Parmigiano Reggiano.

    Bake at 200C for 15 minutes, then broil for about 3 minutes until the surface is golden and crisp.

Practical Cooking Checks

The cues that matter most while cooking.

Key technique
Semolina dough enriched with egg yolks and Parmesan is cut into rounds and baked.
Finish cue
Bake at 200C for 15 minutes, then broil for about 3 minutes until the surface is golden and crisp.
Avoid this
Whisk without stopping for about 1 minute, scraping the bottom and corners so the grains hydrate evenly and do not clump.
Storage and reheating
Let it cool completely until firm; cutting while warm tears the sheet and leaves rough edges.

Cooking decision evidence

Calculated Charim data and applicable official cooking and food safety guidance.

This recipe

50min, 7 ingredients

Category median

35min, 9 ingredients

Based on 109 recipes

Use-up ingredient planner

Turn these ingredients into two more meals

The overlap excludes basic seasonings. Open the next recipe and your selected dishes will stay with you.

Tips

Cool the dough fully for clean cuts.
Swap part of the cheese with pecorino for deeper flavor.

Estimated nutrition (per serving)

Calories
410
kcal
Protein
16
g
Carbs
40
g
Fat
20
g