Description
Malfatti are soft, pillowy Italian dumplings made with ricotta cheese, spinach, and Parmesan, traditionally served with a light tomato sauce or melted butter and sage.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup cooked spinach, squeezed dry and chopped
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups marinara or tomato sauce (for serving)
- Fresh basil or sage leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, spinach, Parmesan, egg, flour, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Lightly flour your hands and form the dough into small oval dumplings, about the size of a walnut.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Carefully drop in the dumplings and cook until they float to the surface, about 3–4 minutes.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked malfatti to a plate.
- Warm the marinara or tomato sauce in a pan and gently toss the malfatti in the sauce or spoon the sauce over them.
- Garnish with fresh basil or sage leaves and serve warm.
Notes
- Ensure the spinach is very dry to avoid a watery dough.
- Chill the dough for 15–30 minutes if it’s too sticky to handle.
- Serve with browned butter and sage for a traditional alternative to tomato sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: malfatti, ricotta dumplings, Italian spinach dumplings, vegetarian Italian dish, homemade gnocchi