Ingredients

1 small head cauliflower, broken into florets1/3 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese1 large egg yolk1 teaspoon salt3/4 to 1 cup all-purpose flour1/4 cup butterFried sage leaves, optional

Preparation

In a 6-qt. stockpot, place a steamer basket over 1 in. of water. Place cauliflower in basket. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; steam, covered, until tender, 8-10 minutes. Drain. When cauliflower is cool enough to handle, wrap in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze dry.

Puree ricotta in a food processor until smooth, 20-30 seconds. Add cauliflower and egg yolk; process until smooth. Add 3/4 cup flour and pulse until mixture forms a soft dough, adding additional flour as needed. Divide dough into 4 portions. On a floured surface, roll each portion into 1/2-in.-thick ropes; cut into 1/2-in. pieces.

In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Cook gnocchi in batches until they float, 30-60 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon. Melt butter in a large skillet. Add gnocchi and cook over medium heat until gnocchi start to brown, 3-4 minutes. Garnish with sage, if desired. Serve immediately.