The now-familiar gnocchi (preceding recipe) have gotten all the attention, but these—if a bit less elegant—are quite wonderful, considerably easier to handle, and far swifter to prepare. They are ideal alongside dishes like Sour Beef Stew with Horseradish (page 379).

　　

Ingredients

makes 4 servings

　　Salt and black pepper to taste

　　1 pound potatoes, peeled

　　1 cup flour, or less

　　2 eggs

　　About 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil or butter or a combination

　　

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Grate or shred the potatoes by hand or in a food processor. Squeeze in a strainer or towel to remove as much liquid as possible. Combine with 1/2 cup of the flour and some salt, pepper, and the eggs. Stir, adding enough additional flour to make a dough that will hold together when squeezed in your hands.

　　

Step 2

Adjust the heat so the water simmers steadily. Make dumplings with a spoon or your hand, each about the size of a walnut or small egg, and add to the water. Cook for about 3 minutes after they float to the surface; taste one and make sure the potato is cooked. Drain. (You may wrap or cover tightly and refrigerate these for up to a day at this point.)

　　

Step 3

When you’re ready to cook, put the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, brown the dumplings lightly, for about 5 minutes, seasoning them with salt and pepper as they cook if necessary. Serve hot.

　　The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved.MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.