Wookey Hole Cheddar Cheesy Gnocchi

  • Serves: 3
  • Level: easy
  • This Cheesy Gnocchi with Wookey Hole Cave-Aged Cheddar is a proper comfort dish. Fluffy potato gnocchi, crisp pancetta, sizzling sage, toasted walnuts, and a generous shower of cave-aged cheddar. Hearty, autumnal, and surprisingly easy to make. Follow along with James here.


    Shopping list

    • For the Gnocchi dough:
    • 20g Wookey Hole cave-aged cheddar, finely grated (plus extra for finishing)
    • 4 Maris Piper potatoes (to yield about 250g finely mashed potato)
    • 1 large egg, beaten
    • 80g 00 flour
    • Pinch of salt & white pepper
    • For the sauce and topping:
    • 100g pancetta or bacon lardons
    • 2 shallots, finely diced
    • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
    • Handful of fresh sage leaves
    • Small handful walnuts, roughly chopped
    • Extra grated cheddar, for serving
    1. Step 1

      Bake the Maris Pipers until tender. Scoop out the flesh and push through a sieve or potato ricer to achieve a fine, fluffy texture.
    2. Step 2

      Mix the potato with grated cheddar, egg, flour, salt, and pepper. Gently knead into a soft dough — don’t overwork it. Roll into small pillows of gnocchi.
    3. Step 3

      Bring salted water to the boil. Drop in the gnocchi and cook for 2–3 minutes, until they float. Lift out with a slotted spoon.
    4. Step 4

      In a pan, fry pancetta or bacon lardons until crisp. Add shallots, garlic, and sage leaves, cooking until fragrant. Toss the gnocchi into the pan with walnuts and extra cheddar, letting everything coat beautifully.
    5. Step 5

      Finish with more grated Wookey Hole cheddar and cracked pepper.

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