Best Spinach Gnocchi Recipes

SPINACH AND RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Cook spinach in large pot of boiling salted water just until wilted, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes. Drain. Squeeze out liquid. Chop spinach.
• Mix spinach, ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan, 1/2 cup flour, egg yolks, salt, pepper and nutmeg in bowl until slightly sticky dough forms.
• Dust baking sheet with flour. Working in batches and using floured hands, roll 1/4 cup dough on floured work surface to form 5-inch-long rope. Cut rope into 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece between palms to form oval. Transfer gnocchi to prepared baking sheet. Repeat rolling, cutting and shaping with remaining dough. Working in batches, add gnocchi to pot of boiling salted water; cook until gnocchi rise to surface. Cook 4 minutes longer. Using slotted spoon, remove gnocchi from water; drain. Place in serving dish.
• Pour butter over gnocchi; toss. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Reheat in 400°F oven about 10 minutes.) Sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper.

SPINACH GNOCCHI

Steps:

• For the gnocchi: In a large stock pot over high heat, boil the potatoes, salt, smashed garlic, and roughly chopped onions until the potatoes are fork tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain and return to the pot to allow the water to cook off, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small saute pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and heat until shimmering. Add the diced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and saute for 1 minute more. Add the spinach and cook for 3 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the spinach is wilted, 5 minutes, stirring often. Place the mixture in a strainer set over a bowl to catch the liquids as it drains off, applying pressure gently a few times to accelerate liquid removal. Reserve 1/2 cup liquid.
• When the potatoes are dry and slightly cooled, roughly cut them and pass through a food mill or ricer. Set aside. (Guy's tip: after ricing the potatoes, spread them out on a baking sheet and allow them to dry out even more to remove moisture).
• In a food processor bowl fitted with the bottom blade, add the strained spinach, pulse to puree, and then add the egg and egg yolk, flour, nutmeg, and Parmesan. Pulse until well mixed. Place into a large bowl and gently fold in the riced potatoes, gently stirring until just combined. You will have very soft dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured board and roll into a 1 1/2-inch thick snake. Dust the dough lightly with flour and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Roll each piece gently with your thumb, leaving a small indentation on 1 side of the gnocchi. Place the finished gnocchi on a lightly floured, parchment paper-lined baking sheet. (Guy's tip: if you have time, let the gnocchi rest in the refrigerator or freezer until chilled prior to cooking. It will help the gnocchi hold its shape better).
• Fill a large stock pot 3/4 full with water, place over high heat, add 1 tablespoon kosher salt, and bring to a rapid boil.
• Meanwhile, for the sauce: Wipe clean the same pan that the spinach was cooked in and place over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons butter and melt. Add the garlic and chile flakes and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Deglaze with the wine, reduce for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the stock, reserved spinach liquid, half-and-half, and cheese and reduce an additional 3 minutes. Add the pepper, tomatoes, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
• When the sauce is ready, add the gnocchi to the boiling water and cook for 3 1/2 minutes. Remove, drain, and let rest for 5 minutes. Add to the sauce and garnish with Parmesan and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Freeze any leftover gnocchi for a later meal.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot salted water to a boil.
• Cut the stems off the spinach, and soak the leaves in the sink. Wash them thoroughly.
• Add the spinach to the boiling water and cook 1 minute. Remove spinach from the water and plunge in a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
• Drain the spinach very well, and using a clean tea towel, squeeze out the extra water. Chop the leaves very fine.
• Put the cooked spinach in a large bowl, add the ricotta, 3 tablespoons Parmesan, egg yolks, and season with a couple pinches salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Mix well, and make sure that the ricotta crumbles into fine pieces, and mixes properly with the spinach. Shape the mixture into balls about the size of walnuts.
• Lightly butter a 13 by 9-inch casserole dish, lay all the gnocchi in it, and dress it with a few very thin slices butter and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Cook the gnocchi at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes, and then use the broiler for the last 5 minutes to crisp and brown the top of the spinach balls.
• In a medium skillet, melt the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, and saute the sage until it starts to brown. Serve the gnocchi on a warm plate and dress with the sage-butter sauce, and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan.

SHEET-PAN GNOCCHI WITH MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a sheet pan, toss together the mushrooms, gnocchi, 5 tablespoons olive oil, scallions and shallot. Season with salt and pepper, shake into an even layer, and roast without stirring until the gnocchi and mushrooms are golden and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Add the spinach and remaining tablespoon of oil, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Spread in an even layer, then return to the oven to roast until the spinach is tender, another 5 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the mustard, horseradish and honey until combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the butter and half the sauce to the sheet pan, and stir until melted and glazy. Eat with the remaining sauce on the side.

GNOCCHI WITH CREAMY TOMATO & SPINACH SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. Fry the garlic until golden, then add the tomatoes. Season, then simmer for 10 mins. Stir in mascarpone, then cook for 2 mins more.
• Meanwhile, boil the gnocchi according to pack instructions. Add the spinach for the final min of cooking. Drain well, pour back into the pan, then stir the sauce through. Mix well and serve immediately with basil leaves and Parmesan shavings scattered over, if you like.

SPINACH & RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Boil the kettle. Place the spinach in a large bowl and pour boiling water over it. Leave for 2 mins until wilted, then drain thoroughly. Leave to cool, then wrap a clean tea towel around the spinach. Hold it over the sink and squeeze out as much water as possible. Finely chop.
• Place the spinach, parsley, garlic, ricotta, flour, eggs, cheese and a generous grating of nutmeg into a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Use a fork to stir very thoroughly until everything is completely mixed. Using wet hands, form the mixture into walnut-size balls. Place on a large plate or tray and refrigerate for at least 30 mins.
• When ready to cook, heat the oven to warm and bring a large pan of water to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium and drop in batches of about 8-10 gnocchi at a time. They will sink to the bottom, and when they rise to the top give them about 1 min more, then remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm while you cook the rest. Serve the gnocchi on warm plates drizzled with olive oil and scattered with rocket and more cheese.

SPINACH GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Blanch the spinach for no more than 20 seconds in salted boiling water. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, drain and squeeze out excess water. Chop fine.
• Heat the butter or olive oil over medium heat in a heavy saucepan and add the spinach, salt (remembering that you will be adding Parmesan, which is salty), pepper, ricotta and flour. Stir together and let the mixture sizzle while you stir constantly for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and beat in the eggs, nutmeg and Parmesan. The mixture should be stiff. Transfer to a bowl, cover well and refrigerate for 2 hours or longer.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment and dust generously with flour. Remove the gnocchi mixture from the refrigerator. There are a few ways to form the gnocchi. You can scoop out small balls by the rounded teaspoon and place on the parchment (they will be sticky so use another spoon to scrape them out of the measuring spoon), or you can divide the dough into 4 pieces and on a floured surface, with lightly floured hands, gently roll each piece into a coil about 3/4 inch wide. Cut into 1-inch pieces and place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Alternatively, place the mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a 5/8 inch round tip and pipe 1-inch blobs onto the parchment. Don't worry if the dough is sticky.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt generously. Meanwhile heat the tomato sauce in a saucepan. Adjust the heat under the water so that it is boiling gently and drop in the gnocchi, about 10 at a time. If they stick to the parchment or your hands lightly flour your fingers and sprinkle a little flour over the gnocchi. Once they float to the top simmer for 4 minutes, then move them to the pan of sauce with a slotted spoon. Serve with the sauce and additional Parmesan to taste.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Squeeze the spinach completely dry, in small handfuls, over a bowl. Transfer the spinach to a food processor. Add the ricotta, 2/3 cup Parmesan, they egg yolk and 2 tablespoons flour; pulse until the spinach is very finely chopped and the mixture is thoroughly combined.
• Lightly dust your hands with flour so the mixture doesn't stick to your hands.
• Scoop 1 teaspoon of the spinach mixture and roll into a ball. Place on a plate and cover with wax paper or parchment. Repeat with the remaining mixture. You should have about 40 gnocchi.
• Working in batches, boil the gnocchi until they rise to the surface, about 3 minutes. Drain the gnocchi with a slotted spoon or mesh spider and transfer to a plate or bowl. Sprinkle with Parmesan, let cool slightly and serve.

SPINACH GNOCCHI WITH GORGONZOLA CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Beat eggs with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg in a large bowl. Mix in ricotta cheese and spinach until evenly blended. Continue mixing in the flour, 1/4 cup at a time until a soft dough forms. If the dough is still sticky, add an additional 1/4 cup of flour. Cover, and place into refrigerator.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Divide the gnocchi dough into 4 pieces, and roll into 1/2 inch thick ropes on a floured surface. Slice each rope into 1/2 inch pieces. Gently boil the gnocchi until they float in the water, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain in a colander, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, pour cream, wine, brandy extract, and 1 pinch of nutmeg into a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and whisk in the Gorgonzola cheese; season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss the gnocchi with the Gorgonzola sauce, and serve immediately.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH GNOCCHI WITH GARLIC-SAGE BUTTER OVER WILTED SPINACH

Steps:

• Pour water into the pot of a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and place a steamer basket inside. Place butternut squash and potatoes in the steamer basket. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 5 minutes. Allow 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Use a pot holder to remove the steamer basket and set aside to allow the squash and potatoes to cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Press the squash and potatoes through a ricer into a large bowl. Add egg and salt, and mix thoroughly. Sift about 1 1/2 cups of flour over the mixture and mix to combine. If the mixture is still sticky, add a bit more flour until it comes together. Turn out mixture onto a well-floured surface and knead slightly, adding more flour until the dough is no longer sticking to your hands or to the surface.
• Divide dough into 4 parts. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and dust with flour.
• Take 1 piece of dough and roll it into a 1/2-inch thick rope on the floured surface. Cut the rope lengthwise into 1/2-inch pieces. Working with 1 piece at a time, roll each piece down a floured gnocchi board to make ridges. Transfer gnocchi onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Place baking sheets in the freezer while you prepare the sauce and spinach.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, place wet spinach in a large skillet over medium heat. Cover and allow condensation to build until the spinach starts to wilt, about 3 minutes. Remove lid and stir the spinach until wilted and the pan begins to dry. Divide spinach among 4 serving plates.
• Combine butter and olive oil in the same skillet that you cooked the spinach. Heat over medium-high heat until mixture begins to foam. Add sage, garlic, and red pepper and swirl the pan to combine. Remove from heat.
• Cook gnocchi in boiling water until they float, 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the skillet with the garlic-sage butter. Toss lightly to coat. Place gnocchi on top of spinach on the serving plates and sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Serve immediately.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH QUICK TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Unwrap the ricotta cheese from the cheesecloth; the texture should be pretty dry and crumbly. If it is really dry (this is good) pass it through the food mill with the biggest holes. Put the cheese into a large bowl.
• Finely chop the squeezed spinach and add it to the ricotta. Add the eggs, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and nutmeg. Mix until well combined. Taste and season with salt, if needed. Add in 1/4 cup of flour. If the mixture is still very wet, add in the remaining 1/4 cup of flour.
• Dust a sheet tray generously with flour. Coat another sheet tray generously with semolina flour. Fill a pastry bag with the ricotta/spinach mixture. Pipe 1 1/2-inch balls of the cheese mixture onto the all-purpose flour lined tray. Shake the tray around to coat the balls in flour. Roll each flour coated cheese piece around in your hand to form a ball. Do this gently so as to not squish the cheese balls. Arrange them on the semolina lined tray.
• Bring a saucepan full of water to a boil over medium heat. Set up a bowl of ice water. In the bottom of each tomato cut an "X" in the skin. Working in batches, put the tomatoes in the boiling water for 15 to 20 seconds ONLY! Remove the tomatoes from the boiling water and put them immediately into the ice water. When the tomatoes have cooled, remove them from the ice water and the skin should come off very easily.
• Remove the stems and seeds from the tomatoes; coarsely chop the tomatoes and reserve.
• Coat a large straight-sided saute pan, over medium-high heat, with olive oil. Add the onions, season with salt, to taste. Toss in the crushed red pepper and cook the onions until they are soft and aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 more minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and season with salt, to taste. Bring the tomato mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• Toss in the basil just before serving.
• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat until the water is at a simmer. Carefully add the gnocchi to the simmering water. Cook until the gnocchi float and have begun to swell, 3 to 5 minutes.
• On individual serving plates, spoon some sauce on each plate and spread it out until it becomes a 4 to 5-inch circle.
• Using a spider or long handled mesh strainer, carefully remove the gnocchi from the cooking water, blot on a tea towel and arrange 5 gnocchi on each circle of sauce. Sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano and serve.

BAKED MUSHROOM, SPINACH, AND CHICKEN GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook until starting to soften, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate or bowl. Wipe out skillet.
• Melt butter in the same skillet. Whisk in flour until a paste forms, about 3 minutes. Whisk in milk and broth until smooth. Simmer, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and nutmeg. Add mushrooms, chicken, gnocchi, and spinach to the sauce. Stir until gnocchi are coated and spinach wilts, about 3 minutes.
• Pour mixture into a large baking dish. Sprinkle liberally with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling, about 20 minutes.

VEGAN GNOCCHI WITH PESTO, SPINACH, AND CANNELLINI BEANS

Steps:

• Place spinach in a microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 4 minutes. Separate with a fork and drain.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook gnocchi in the boiling water until they float to the top, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until warm. Add mushrooms and cook until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add celery, cover, and cook for 3 more minutes. Remove mushrooms and celery to a bowl.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet. Add gnocchi and brown, flipping halfway through, 4 to 6 minutes. Add mushroom-celery mixture, cannellini beans, spinach, onions, wine, salt, and sage; simmer until heated through, about 3 minutes.
• Mix together vegan pesto and vegetable broth in a small bowl. Pour into skillet over gnocchi and serve.

VEGETARIAN GNOCCHI WITH SPINACH AND MUSHROOM-BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook gnocchi in the boiling water until they float to the top, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and saute for 2 minutes. Toss in spinach, basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until spinach is wilted and sauce begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Add gnocchi and stir until coated in sauce; cook for 2 more minutes.

GNOCCHI, SPINACH, AND MEATBALL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat and saute onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chicken stock, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and bring liquid slowly up to a simmer, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the meatballs. Combine ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, onion powder, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix until well combined. Roll mixture into tiny 1/2-inch meatballs.
• Once the soup is boiling, carefully drop meatballs one by one into the pot. Bring back up to a slow simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Skim off any gray muck that comes to the top with a spoon and discard.
• Add carrots, escarole, and gnocchi and bring soup back to a simmer. Stir in half-and-half, spinach, and herbs. When gnocchi rise to the top, remove from heat.
• Remove bay leaf and serve soup with Parmesan cheese.

SKILLET GNOCCHI WITH SPINACH & WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add gnocchi and cook, stirring often, until plumped and starting to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.
• Add the remaining oil and onion the pan and cook over medium heat for about 7 to 10 minutes, till soft and lightly caramelized. Stir in garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the spinach, tomatoes, beans, pepper to the onions and garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in gnocchi and sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover just till cheese melts about 1 minute.
• *optional version* Add reaming oil and onion to the pan and cook, stirring, over medium heat for 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook until the onion is soft about 4 minutes.

SPINACH RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• in a 9- to 10-inch heavy skillet cook garlic and onion in oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until onion is softened. Add tomatoes with reserved juice, wine, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Make gnocchi while sauce is cooking:
• In a small saucepan combine spinach with 1/2 cup water and simmer, covered, breaking up with a fork occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain spinach in a colander and rinse under cold water to cool. Squeeze spinach in a small handfuls until as dry as possible and chop fine.
• In a 5-quart saucepan bring 4 quarts salted water to a boil for cooking gnocchi. Set broiler rack about 4 inches form heat and preheat broiler.
• In a bowl stir together spinach, ricotta, 1/3 cup Parmesan, yolk, 2 tablespoons flour, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste until combined well (mixture will be very soft). With well-floured hands form rounded tablespoons of mixture into logs about 2 inches long and 1 inch in diameter (about 18) and transfer gnocchi as formed to a sheet of wax paper.
• Working in 2 batches, carefully transfer gnocchi with a spatula to boiling water and cook until they rise to surface, about 2 minutes. Transfer gnocchi as cooked with a slotted spoon to a buttered shallow baking dish large enough to hold them in one layer and sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan. Broil gnocchi until very hot and cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Serve gnocchi with tomato sauce.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Wash the spinach, then place in a pan with just the water that clings to its leaves. Cover. Cook over low heat for 6-8 minutes or until wilted. Drain well and set aside.
• Squeeze out as much liquid as possible then finely chop the spinach. A processor works well for this. Place the spinach in a bowl along with the ricotta cheese, half the Parmesan cheese, the eggs, nutmeg and season to taste with salt and pepper. Beat until thoroughly combined. Sift in the flour and lightly work it into the mixture, adding enough to make a workable mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
• With floured hands, break off small pieces of the mixture and roll into walnut-size balls. Handle as little as possible, they are delicate. Lightly dust the gnocchi with flour.
• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boiling point. Add the gnocchi and cook 2-3 minutes until they rise to the surface. Remove from pan and drain well.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter for the herb mixture in a large, heavy-bottom skillet over low heat. Add the oregano and sage and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the gnocchi and toss gently to coat. Transfer to serving dish and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA CHEESE GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Drain the ricotta cheese in a cheesecloth-lined strainer set over a bowl until it is very dry. Transfer the cheese to a large bowl and set it aside.
• Cook the spinach in batches in a covered large soup pot with no additional water until the spinach has wilted. Drain it in a colander, and when cool enough to handle, squeeze the spinach as dry as possible with your hands to remove excess water. You should have about 2 cups of squeezed spinach.
• Chop the spinach coarsely, then purée it in a blender or food processor until it is very smooth. Transfer the spinach to the bowl with the cheese and stir in 1/3 cup of the grated cheese, eggs, mint, salt, nutmeg and pepper, and mix well. Begin adding the flour a little at a time until a soft dough is obtained and is not sticking to your hands.
• It is easier to form the gnocchi if the dough is refrigerated for several hours or overnight.
• Lightly flour a work surface. Using two soupspoons, shape heaping tablespoons of the dough into an oval or egg shape then gently slide the dough off the spoon onto the floured surface.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. With a spoon, scoop up about 8 to 10 gnocchi at a time and add them to the water. Boil them until they float.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large sauté pan and stir in the sage leaves. Cover the pan and keep the sauce warm.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove and transfer the gnocchi to the sauce tossing them gently until well coated with the sauce.
• Divide between 8 individual plates and sprinkle with the remaining 1/3 cup of cheese. Serve hot.

SPINACH GNOCCHI WITH RICOTTA & PARMESAN

Steps:

• 1. Cook frozen spinach in microwave and cool completely. When cool, squeeze out any liquid until dry.
• 2. Add all ingredients into food processor EXCEPT flour and process for 30-60 seconds until spinach is broken into tiny pieces, but specks of dark green remain. (You don't want it a uniform color.)
• 3. Place spinach mixture into a large bowl and add 2 cups of flour. Mix well. Using your hands, add flour 1/4 cup at a time until a stiff dough is achieved that you can roll into ropes. It will be a work out for your arms! =) (I roll a test piece in my hands to see if it's ready.) The amount of flour depends on how dry you get your spinach. I usually use 2 1/2- 2 3/4 cups total. You'll be flouring your board also. Too dry and it won't form a nice rope. Too wet and it's too sticky.
• 4. Place dough ball on a dinner plate. Lightly flour your counter top or board. Cut dough ball every 3/4" or so and then form these chunks of dough into ropes about the same size around as your thumb. Cut ropes into 1" chunks. (If you see a string from the spinach, just pat it down.) Place on large parchment lined cookie sheet with a sprinkling of flour. Continue until all dough is cut into 1" pieces. If you have time and patience, you can roll each gnocchi off of the tines of a fork forming ridges, but I never do.
• 5. Drop into salted slow boiling water and give a stir so they don't stick to the bottom. Boil gently until they rise to the top. (3-5 minutes) Drain. Serve with freshly shaved Parmesan or Asiago cheese and your favorite pasta sauce, Alfredo sauce, browned butter/sage sauce, whatever you like.