Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Duck Confit and Swiss Chard
- 1 (1 1/2-lb) butternut squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
- 3/4 lb Yukon Gold potatoes
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano (1 1/2 oz)
- 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour plus additional for dusting
- 5 (6-oz) confit duck legs
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 lb Swiss chard, stems and tough center ribs discarded and leaves cut into 2- by 1-inch pieces, then washed (but not dried)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Accompaniment: grated Pecorino Romano
- Special equipment: a potato ricer or a food mill fitted with fine disk
- Preheat oven to 500F.
- Arrange squash halves, cut sides down, in an oiled shallow baking pan and put potatoes alongside.
- Roast vegetables in middle of oven until squash is tender, about 25 minutes.
- Transfer squash to a cutting board and potatoes to oven rack, then continue to roast potatoes until tender, about 12 minutes more.
- When cool enough to handle, scrape flesh from squash, discarding skin, then force flesh through ricer into a bowl.
- Measure out 3/4 cup puree and put in another bowl (reserve remainder for another use).
- Remove skin from potatoes while still hot and force flesh through ricer into bowl with squash.
- Spread squash-potato puree in another shallow baking pan and cool completely.
- Return puree to bowl and stir in egg, cheese, thyme, sage, salt, white pepper, and nutmeg.
- Add flour, then gently knead dough by hand 1 minute (it will be soft and slightly sticky).
- Turn dough out onto a floured cutting board and cut into 3 portions.
- Gently roll each portion into a long log about 3/4 inch thick.
- Cut each log into 3/4-inch pieces with a floured knife.
- Press a piece of dough against tines of a floured fork and push with a floured thumb in a forward motion toward end of tines, letting gnocchi fall from fork onto a floured kitchen towel.
- Repeat with remaining pieces of dough.
- Cook duck legs, skin sides down, in batches in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat, turning once, until browned and some of fat is rendered, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer duck to cleaned cutting board, then discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet, reserving skillet.
- When duck is cool enough to handle, discard skin and bones, then pull meat into 1/4-inch-thick pieces.
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet and remove from heat.
- Cook gnocchi in 3 batches in a 6-quart pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until centers are cooked through, about 3 minutes.
- (Gnocchi will float to top after about 1 1/2 minutes.)
- Transfer as cooked with a slotted spoon to butter in skillet.
- Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, then stir in chard and salt.
- Cook, covered, just until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
- While chard is wilting, heat reserved duck fat in skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then saute duck, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add chard, including any cooking liquid, and duck to gnocchi and cook over moderate heat, tossing gently, until heated through.
- Serve sprinkled with cheese.
butternut squash, potatoes, egg, romano, thyme, fresh sage, salt, white pepper, nutmeg, flour, unsalted butter, swiss chard, salt, accompaniment, potato ricer
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/butternut-squash-gnocchi-with-duck-confit-and-swiss-chard-105588 (may not work)