How to transform leftover baked potato into a summery Italian feast

The Guardian

6 days ago

I'm rolling these gnocchi out of yesterday's leftover baked potato and feeling rather chuffed with myself, because when you're able to cut out a step from a normally scratch-cook dish such as gnocchi, it makes life easier. Crisp up the leftover potato skins in a pan with sea salt to enjoy as a snack, or freeze them for making loaded potato skins (recipe coming next week).
A great way to make extra-flavourful fluffy pillows of gnocchi is to make them with leftover baked potato. Baking the potatoes instead of boiling them reduces their moisture content, meaning less flour is required, which in turn results in a lighter, less pasty gnocchi. Leftover baked potato also saves about an hour of prep time.
This recipe serves two, using just one leftover baked potato, which I've turned into a one-pot wonder with seasonal broad beans, feta and mint. I wouldn't recommend baking a single potato just for this, not least because the recipe is designed to make use of leftovers. If you'd like to make it from scratch, plan a baked potato meal earlier in the week and make one extra. Otherwise, steaming is a good, efficient alternative.
If you want to get ahead, gnocchi freeze well. Lay them flat on a tray to freeze, then transfer to a sealed bag or container and store for up to three months. Cook straight from frozen, and give them a few extra minutes to rise to the surface.
As a wholefood chef, I use wholemeal spelt flour, which adds flavour and nutrition, and also helps reduce waste by retaining the bran and wheat germ. To save money and potential waste, instead of using an egg yolk to bind the mix, I add a pinch of baking powder to lighten the dough.
Serves 2
For the baked potato gnocchi1 medium-large cooked baked potato, flesh scooped out to yield 200-250g50-60g wholemeal flour (I used spelt), plus extra for dusting½ tsp baking powder
Salt and black pepper
For the broad bean, feta and mint toppingJuice of ½ lemon, plus the finely grated zest if organic and unwaxed2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 large sprigs mint
150g broad beans (from roughly 450g pods), or frozen broad beans100g feta, crumbled
Put the potato flesh in a bowl, add the flour and baking powder, then mix and knead into a ball; if it's a little sticky, add a little more flour. Split into 16 similar-sized pieces, then, using your hands, roll each one into the shape of a rugby ball and arrange in a single layer on a floured tray. Cook the gnocchi either by frying them in a little oil until golden brown all over, or by dropping them into boiling salted water for about 60 seconds, or until they float to the surface. Lift out, drain and serve with your favourite topping.
At this time of year, I like to serve gnocchi with broad beans, feta and mint. In a small bowl, mix the lemon juice (and, if it's organic and unwaxed, the grated zest, too) with the oil. Pick the leaves off the mint sprigs, then finely chop the stalks, add these to the dressing bowl and season generously.
Blanch the broad beans in boiling salted water for five minutes, then lift out and drain. Meanwhile, cook the gnocchi either by frying them in a little oil until golden brown all over or by dropping them into boiling salted water for about 60 seconds, until they float to the surface, then lift out and drain. Stir in the blanched beans and dressing, garnish with the crumbled feta and the reserved mint leaves, and tuck in.