Gnocchi may seem like a big ask to do gluten free, but we checked out the offerings from Silly Yaks and came up with a dinner that was definitely in the 'more than edible' category!
I've never been a big one for carefully reading of directions and recipes, so it did come as a bit of a surprise that my first attempt at gluten free gnocchi turned out as well as it did. Why? Well...
Step one in cooking gnocchi the Silly Yak's way, it seems, is to read the tiny directions printed on the lid which does clearly state that the gnocchi should be put into rapidly boiling water (that means the water has to be on the go first!). It should only stay in there for a MAXIMUM (no I didn't read that bit till later) for 15-20 seconds. Then it will rise to the surface and should be turned off, lobbed quickly into the sauce and eaten pronto.
So here's how my version turned out (goes to show there is flexibility in those directions after all!):
Get water to an 'almost boil' then pop in the gnocchi
Wander back to the computer to check some emails, thinking to self that pasta always takes a while to cook
Return to kitchen to check gnocchi (and read directions more carefully)
Turn off the gas jet fast as gnocchi has now been in a good few minutes and is bobbing about happily on the surface
Extract gnocchi and strain with breath held (straining is the danger zone for most gluten free pastas - if mushiness is going to occur it is generally at this stage of the cooking process)
Stir carefully through the pasta sauce (did quite a nice job of that actually - carrots, celery, onion, garlic and parsley straight from the garden - still with raindrops attached)
Serve to family as they arrived through the door with husband chuckling to himself at the description of a dinner which 'could taste quite good'
Outcome - not at all bad, considering!
Good, bordering on excellent given the treatment I gave it!
I have been told the eyesight starts to go on the far side of 30 (which is all I'm willing to admit to). For those who need glasses to read a book, take note - 15-20 SECONDS IS NOT VERY LONG TO COOK ANYTHING!
Now there is a chance that I would not have read even a very large font size set of instructions, but if they had been written a little bigger at least the chance of my reading them would surely have been raised!
I am all in favour of great tasting food that can be shifted rapidly from the freezer to the pot and then into a sauce made of a few handfuls of ingredients, and this product does not disappoint on that score. The serving size of 250 grams is probably best suited to about 2-3 adults, as it was a bit of a stretch for 2 adults and 2 kids (would also be ideal for one very hungry adult!) Of course, it does leave room for a gluten free dessert...