Semolina Gnocchi Recipe (Gnocchi alla Romana)!

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The ultimate comfort food! The traditional Semolina Gnocchi recipe (called Gnocchi alla Romana in Italian) bears almost no resemblance to the more well-known potato gnocchi. However, some historians believe that these baked semolina flour dumplings actually pre-date the potato gnocchi.

Gnocchi Alla Romana is incredibly satisfying as a lunch, dinner or even as an appetizer. If you’d like to learn how to make gnocchi, this dish is arguably an easier place to start than the more popular potato gnocchi. If you like grits, polenta or porridge, you’ll love this dish! Unlike polenta which is made from corn, the main ingredient here comes from wheat. And, there are no potatoes. 

Gnocchi alla Romana ready to enjoy!

Watch the Video Recipe!

Learn how to make this Semolina Gnocchi recipe with Italian Grandma Lulu in this video recipe, filmed in Italy:

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How to Make Semolina Gnocchi: Tips

Made with this Semolina Gnocchi alla Romana recipe

Ever made Cream of Wheat, porridge or grits? Making Semolina Gnocchi is just like that! First, you make a creamy porridge of semolina flour, milk, egg yolks and a touch of butter and nutmeg. Then, you roll the mixture between two pieces of parchment paper and cut into rounds!

Bake in the oven and top with any number of delicious cheeses or herbs. Fresh sage and melted butter, gorgonzola cheese or even just a bit of Parmigiano Reggiano are all fantastic ways to finish off this Semolina Gnocchi recipe.

Best of all? It’s a quick recipe! With just 10-15 minutes of prep and then 20 minutes in the oven, it’s an easy recipe you can make weekly.

Explore the Nonna Lulu Collection: https://bit.ly/47K90PR

Semolino vs Semolina?

The main ingredient is called ‘semolino’ in Italy, however look for ‘semolina flour’ outside of Italy.

Adding semolina flour to our mix.

Are eggs necessary?

Not necessary, but they do add to the taste and texture. You can leave the eggs out, though the consistency will be slightly different. Italians sometimes make this dish without eggs as well.

Adding eggs to our semolina gnocchi

Is whole milk necessary?

No, it’s not necessary. However if you use low-fat milk, we recommend doubling the butter called for if you want to make the tastiest version of the dish.

whole milk in our semolina gnocchi

Two ways to cut the gnocchi!

For lovely, perfectly round gnocchi we recommend spreading the mixture out, cooling and cutting rounds out with a biscuit or cookie cutter.

However, you can also make a log of the mixture while it is warm—as you might with polenta. In this case, use a knife to cut the chilled log into rounds. Rounds made this way tend to lack the perfectly round shape, and so they are less attractive.

Biscuit or cookie cutters make the most attractive Gnocchi alla Romana!
Preparing Gnocchi alla Romana with toppings for the oven!

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Semolina Gnocchi Recipe

Semolina Gnocchi Recipe

PIATTO RECIPES
The ultimate comfort food, Gnocchi alla Romana bears almost no resemblance to the more well-known potato gnocchi. However, Gnocchi Alla Romana is a traditional Italian recipe that is incredibly satisfying as a lunch, dinner or even as an appetizer. If you like grits, polenta or porridge, you’ll love this dish!
5 from 74 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian, Mediterranean
Servings 6 people
Calories 422 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 ½ cups semolina flour
  • 4 ¼ cups whole milk
  • 8 tbsp Parmigiano Reggiano
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ⅛ tsp nutmeg or to taste
  • 1 tsp fine salt or to taste

Topping Suggestions

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted as needed
  • 5 leaves fresh sage
  • Parmigiano Reggiano or pecorino cheese; grated

Instructions
 

Make the 'Dough'

  • Bring the milk and butter to simmer over medium-low heat.
  • Add salt and nutmeg to taste. 
  • When the milk is warm and butter melted, add all of the semolina flour a little at a time—stirring continuously. 
  • Simmer the mixture until it begins to thicken. The consistency will be like cooked porridge.
  • Remove the thick mixture from the heat and immediately whisk in two egg yolks. 
  • Whisk the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese into the mixture as well. 

Shape the Gnocchi

  • Shape in one of two ways, then let the dough cool. 
    Option #1: Sandwich the warm mixture between parchment paper and roll out to a height of ½ inch or 1 cm.
    Option #2: Or, use a piece of parchment paper to shape the mixture into a log about 2 inches in diameter.
  • After you’ve shaped the dough, cool in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. 

Cut or Slice the Gnocchi

  • Option #1: If you rolled the dough out, use a 2 inch (1 cm) cookie or biscuit cutter to cut the gnocchi into rounds. 

Add Condiments

  • Arrange the gnocchi in a large dish, slightly overlapping.
  • Add any condiments you prefer, such as melted butter and sage…
  • … or sweet Italian gorgonzola!
  • Top with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (optional).

Bake the Gnocchi

  • Bake in a pre-heated 400℉ (200℃) 'static' oven for 15-20 minutes.
    You can finish them on 'broil' if you like for a few minutes to make them crispy on top. Just watch that they don't burn!

Video

Notes

Re-roll gnocchi dough scraps!
Are you shaping the gnocchi by rolling it out, then cutting it into rounds? You’ll have some scraps left over, but you don’t need to waste them!
Simply press the scraps together and roll them out between the parchment paper once again. Cut into rounds, repeat—until you’ve used all of the dough.
Topping Alternatives
Top with about about 1.8 oz of sweet Italian gorgonzola! 

Nutrition

Sodium: 645mgCalcium: 238mgVitamin C: 1mgVitamin A: 759IUSugar: 6gFiber: 2gPotassium: 254mgCholesterol: 130mgCalories: 422kcalTrans Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 13gFat: 22gProtein: 14gCarbohydrates: 42gIron: 3mg
Keyword cheesy, pasta
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About the author

Classic recipes from Italy and beyond. Traditional Italian Cooking and Mediterranean Diet recipes!

PIATTO™ Recipes bring traditional Italian food recipes to your table with our tested, step-by-step recipes and videos. You'll find the best Italian recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Always tested, always delicious.

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71 thoughts on “Semolina Gnocchi Recipe (Gnocchi alla Romana)!”

  24. 5 stars
    Cara Lulù ho imparato a fare gli gnocchi classici da te, ieri ho fatto quelli alla Romana ottimi venuti benissimo con burro e salvia…….sei simpaticissima quello che ci vuole in cucina

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  33. 5 stars
    Che bellezza vederla cucinare e assaggiare Nonna Lulù 😁 Ma si possono fare anche al microonde? Se si i tempi di cottura quali sono? Grazie

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  63. 5 stars
    Complimenti alla signora! !!…..è stata molto chiara ed ha saputo esporre con semplicità un piatto della tradizione romana, ma esteso in tutta Italia. …forse anche in qualche altro paese! !!Buon anno alla cara nonnina 💖

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  68. 5 stars
    Eccezionale nonna LULÙ presentazione perfetta, io preferisco di sicuro al gorgonzola ma mi sacrifico anche per quelli alla salvia………buonissimo👍👍👍

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  70. 5 stars
    Ciao nonna Lulù Finalmente sei tornata, con la tua buona è semplice cucina.Questa ricetta mi fa venire l’acquolina in bocca .La farò di sicuro

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