Perilla Oil Potato Gnocchi with Pancetta
Pasta Medium

Perilla Oil Potato Gnocchi with Pancetta

Quick answer

Perilla oil potato gnocchi with pancetta dresses soft potato gnocchi in rendered pancetta fat, chicken stock, and butter, finishing with unheated perilla oil to preserve...

What makes this special

  • Raw perilla oil and rendered pancetta fat dress soft potato gnocchi with savory depth.
  • Pancetta rendered fat forms the savory base for building the sauce
  • Perilla oil drizzled off-heat keeps its raw, nutty sharpness intact
Total time
45 min
Level
Medium
Servings
2 servings
Ingredients
10
Calories
680 kcal
Protein
21 g

Key ingredients

potato gnocchipancettaoniongarlicperilla oil

Core cooking flow

  1. 1 Finely dice 70g onion and thinly slice 2 garlic cloves before heating the pan.
  2. 2 Drop 300g potato gnocchi into salted boiling water and stir once so they do not stick.
  3. 3 Heat a wide pan over medium heat, add 80g pancetta, and cook for about 3 minutes.

Perilla oil potato gnocchi with pancetta dresses soft potato gnocchi in rendered pancetta fat, chicken stock, and butter, finishing with unheated perilla oil to preserve its raw, distinctly nutty fragrance. The pancetta crisps first, and its rendered fat becomes the cooking medium for onion and garlic to build an aromatic base. Boiled gnocchi are tossed in this base with Parmigiano to create a light, glossy emulsified sauce rather than a heavy cream one. Perilla oil goes on at the very end - heating it would destroy the sesame-like aroma that separates this preparation from standard Italian gnocchi. Shredded perilla leaves on top reinforce the Korean element with color and a grassy, herbal note. Total cook time runs about twenty minutes.

Prep 25min Cook 20min 2 servings

Instructions

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

6 steps
  1. 1
    Prep

    Finely dice 70g onion and thinly slice 2 garlic cloves before heating the pan.

    Pat 4 perilla leaves dry, stack them, and cut into fine shreds so they stay fresh for serving.

  2. 2
    Season

    Drop 300g potato gnocchi into salted boiling water and stir once so they do not stick.

    When they float after 1 to 2 minutes, lift them out immediately, drain well, and spread them in one layer.

  3. 3
    Control

    Heat a wide pan over medium heat, add 80g pancetta, and cook for about 3 minutes.

    Let the edges brown and crisp, but keep the rendered fat in the pan because it seasons the sauce base.

  4. 4
    Heat

    Add the onion and garlic to the pancetta fat and cook for about 2 minutes.

    When the onion turns translucent and the garlic smells sweet, add 15g butter and let it melt without browning hard.

  5. 5
    Step

    Add the drained gnocchi and raise the heat to medium high.

    Leave them undisturbed for about 2 minutes so the bottom browns, then turn gently and pour in 80ml chicken stock.

  6. 6
    Finish

    Simmer for 1 minute until the stock looks glossy and lightly coats the gnocchi.

    Lower the heat, stir in 25g Parmesan and black pepper, then turn off the heat and finish with perilla oil and leaves.

After the steps

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Tips

Perilla oil aroma fades on high heat, so add it after lowering the flame.
Searing gnocchi right after boiling gives the best crisp-outside, soft-inside texture.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories
680
kcal
Protein
21
g
Carbs
60
g
Fat
39
g