Jennifer Missoni - Ricotta Loves Spinach #ItalianTASTE

On the occasion of World Week of Italian Cuisine the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles is happy to present "RICOTTA LOVES SPINACH" by JENNIFER MISSONI.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS AND ANECDOTES
Each region of Italy has its own variant of gnocchi made with typical ingredients of the area of origin: flour, corn flour, semolina, bread, chestnut flour, ricotta or vegetables from pumpkin to spinach to the classic potato.
In this recipe they can be called “Malfatti”. This word means "badly done" and is the name attributed by the Tuscans to gnocchi made of ricotta and spinach, that are ravioli without wrapping.
The presence of spinach enriches it with phytonutrients such as carotenoids, lutein, beta-carotene and zeaxanthin which provide antioxidant protection for eyes and overall health.

WINE PAIRING
With a recipe like Jennifer’s Gnocchi di ricotta e spinaci it would be better to pair a white wine. It is indeed a very delicate and smooth dish, and the wine needs to be delicate as well. Balance, remember? This is a key word in pairing. But contrast is as important. This is a dish with a good degree of fatness due to the presence of ricotta and ghee, completed with the soft aromaticity of sage. You should thus drink a wine that at each sip clears your mouth from the fat: freshness is also needed.
A good option could be an aromatic dry wine of LAZIO like a good MALVASIA, that also has the capacity to exalt the flavor of sage. This grape, like Moscato, has traditionally been vinified sweet all around Italy, but in the last years very good dry wines have been made with it.
If you prefer bubbles (French people always had their meals with Champagne, whereas Italians only started recently) you can try the gnocchi with a good Extra dry SPUMANTE FRANCIACORTA METODO CLASSICO from LOMBARDIA.
Last but not least, if you prefer a more traditional pairing, a CHARDONNAY from PUGLIA, with his freshness and round taste will greatly do the job.

#JenniferMissoni #ItalyinLA #ItalianTASTE