Gnudi (Naked Ravioli)

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I need some comfort food!  I don’t mean to sound whiny but sometimes your life just gets too crazy and you need to find a little comfort where you can.  That’s what these Gnudi do for me. Whoever came up with that phrase ‘comfort food’ sure got it right.  Everyone has their own food that brings them comfort and for me it usually involves cheese.  I added spinach and cooked the gnudi in a tomato sauce to make them nutritious as well as comforting.  Next time your life gets too crazy try a bowl of these gnudi and get your comfort on!

Kristy

Ingredients:

• 5 ounces baby spinach
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, minced, divided
• 1 container (15- 16 ounces) ricotta cheese
• 5 tbsp grated Italian cheese (I used a blend of Fontina, Asiago and Parmesan), divided
• 1/4 -1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour, more or less depending on the moisture content in the ricotta
• salt to taste
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
• 4 tbsp basil
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1 can (15 ounce) pizza sauce

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place 1 tbsp olive oil in a large oven proof skillet and saute the spinach and 1 clove minced garlic on medium heat until the spinach is wilted. Spoon into a large bowl and let cool.
   

   Saute cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil and oregano until the tomatoes are soft and the skins are wilted

3. In the same pan add the remaining oil and saute the cherry tomatoes, remaining garlic, basil and oregano until the tomatoes are soft and the skins are wilted.
4. Stir in the can of pizza sauce and simmer on low.
   

   Add the ricotta, grated cheese and salt to the spinach.

5. Add to the bowl of spinach the ricotta, 4 tbsp grated cheese and the salt. Stir to combine. Add flour a little at a time until you have a firm enough consistancy to be able to form the cheese mixture into little balls.
6. Spoon a small amount (about a teaspoon or so) and form with your hands into a little ball about the size of a prune or date. It helps to keep your hands moist either with water or oil.
7. Drop the balls into the skillet of tomato sauce.
8. Sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of grated cheese.
9. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the gnudi are firm and the cheese is turning golden brown.
10. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Info:

Makes about 4 cups sauce and 30-36 gnudi.

Serving size 1 cup sauce and approximately 8 gnudi.

Nutrients per serving:  Calories: 337.5, Cal. from Fat: 167.5, Total Fat: 17.5g, Sat. Fat: 6g, Carbs: 20g, Fiber: 5.5g, Sugars: 4.5g, Protein: 16.5g, Sodium: 493.5mg, Chol: 38.5mg

Notes:

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.