DAN'S FAVORITE RECIPE - BAKED GNOCCHI BOLOGNESE

INGREDIENTS:

1x20g pack of fresh basil
1x500g packet fresh gnocchi
1x300g tub bolognese sauce
1x300g tub four cheese sauce
3oz (75g) grated mozzarella
2 tablespoons fresh, grated Parmigiano Reggiano
Whole nutmeg
Salt and freshly milled black pepper

*** You will also need an oblong (8in x 6in x 1.5 in/ 20cm x 15cm x 4cm)or square medium sized baking dish.

Preheat the oven to gas mark 4, 350F (180C). The only preparation work you’re going to do is start by chopping the basil leaves – leaving aside 4 nice small sprigs for a garnish – and boil the gnocchi. To do this bring a large pan of water up to boiling point, add some salt and tip in the gnocchi. Cook them for about 3 minutes: as they’re cooking they rise to the surface, and at that point you hike them out into a bowl, using a draining spoon.

After that spread half the Bolognese sauce over the base of the baking dish and follow that with half the cheese sauce. Next add all the cooked gnocchi in a layer and season with salt and pepper. Now sprinkle in the chopped basil, plus half the mozzarella, followed by the rest of the Bolognese sauce and then the remainder of the cheese sauce.

Top with the remaining grated mozzarella, a few gratings of nutmeg, and finally the grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Bake in the oven on a high shelf for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is brown and bubbling. Leave it to settle out of the oven for 10 minutes before serving, and garnish each portion with a small basil sprig. A green salad is a good accompaniment.

The original recipe can be found here. For more recipes by Delia Smith, please visit Delia Online.