Gnocchi di Polenta al Sugo di Carne – A Traditional Italian Recipe

Polenta Gnocchi with Meat Sauce

Sugo di carne, or meat sauce in Italian, is a traditional ingredient in northern Italian cuisine, particularly in Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy. The sauce is usually made with ground beef or pork, tomato sauce, and aromatics like garlic and onions.

Gnocchi di Polenta al Sugo di Carne is a hearty and satisfying dish made with polenta and meat sauce that is ideal for cold winter nights. The dish is frequently topped with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley, which adds a burst of flavour and freshness.

Ingredients (serves 6-8)

For the meat sauce:

• 1 onion, chopped finely
• 1 carrot, chopped finely
• 1 celery stalk, chopped finely
• 5 sprigs of parsley, chopped finely
• 100 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 400 g minced beef
• 1 pork sausage, skinned and chopped
• 1 glass dry red wine
• Optional: 25 g dried porcini mushrooms, soaked and chopped
• 400 g tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• 2 ladles meat stock
• 1 tsp salt

Procedure

Sautè the vegetables in the oil until lightly golden. Add the mince and the sausage. Cook and stir until browned. Add the wine and stir until it evaporates. Add the tomatoes, stock and salt. Let it simmer for a couple of hours. If it dries out, add a little stock or water. At the end of the cooking process check if there is enough salt and adjust to taste.

For the gnocchi:

• 700 g polenta (corn meal)
• 2 L water or stock
• a pinch of salt
• a pinch of black ground pepper

Procedure

Boil the water/stock with salt and pepper and slowly pour the polenta into the liquid, whisking continuously. Keep stirring and cook for about 20 minutes. Pour the polenta onto a tray and spread it until you obtain a thickness of about 2 cm. Let it cool. When the polenta is set, cut it into discs and toss them through the hot meat sauce. Serve.

** This gnocchi recipe can be served with a wide array of different sauces. **

Polenta Gnocchi with Meat Sauce Sugo di carne, or meat sauce in Italian, is a traditional ingredient in northern Italian cuisine, particularly in Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy. The sauce is usually made with ground beef or pork, tomato sauce, and aromatics like garlic and onions. Gnocchi di Polenta al Sugo di…

Polenta Gnocchi with Meat Sauce Sugo di carne, or meat sauce in Italian, is a traditional ingredient in northern Italian cuisine, particularly in Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy. The sauce is usually made with ground beef or pork, tomato sauce, and aromatics like garlic and onions. Gnocchi di Polenta al Sugo di…