Creamy yellow Gorgonzola, abundantly veined with a blue green mould,  can also be produced as an unaged paler, creamier version. Traditionally the cheese is made with raw cow’s milk and even sheep’s milk cheese varieties are available today. It’s been made outside Milano since the eighth century, when it was hung in huge caves to ripen. Nobody knows when the Penicillin glaucum mould first began colonizing the cheese, but nowadays it’s an integral part of the Gorgonzola and the cheese would simply not be the same without it.  Whilst many cheese makers around the world have attempted to imitate

the mould, nobody has managed to achieve the same balance that exists in the mould found in the ripening caves outside Milano. One wonders why …..

Ingredients

• 1kg floury potatoes
• 330g Flour
• 250g Gorgonzola cheese
• 65 g walnuts, broken
• 30g Butter
• 3 tbsp double cream
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Freshly ground black pepper

Method Preheat the oven to 180 C.

• Put the unpeeled potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with salted water and bring to the boil.
• Simmer briskly for 15-20 minutes until tender, drain and then peel and cut in quarters.
• Place on a baking sheet and put it in the oven to dry for about 5 minutes
• Pass the potatoes through a coarse sieve set over a large bowl – it work’s better than a ricer.
• Quickly stir in the flour and egg and then season with salt. When well blended, cover with a clean tea towel to retain the warmth.
• Take a little of the potato mixture and roll into a long thin sausage.
• Slice into pieces about 2.5cm long and using a gnocchi paddle or a fork, roll the gnocchi with your thumb and then roll it the other way to make ridges on the side.
• Continue until you have used up all the potato mixture. Place the prepared gnocchi on well-floured trays as you work.
• In the mean time, bring a large pot of salted water to the boil.
• Drop in the gnocchi in batches.
• Simmer briskly for about 5 minutes until they rise to the surface.
• Drain gently using a wire scoop, and transfer to a warm serving dish.
• While the gnocchi are cooking, melt the gorgonzola and butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
• When completely melted add the cream and boil for 1 minute.
• Add the cheese mixture to the gnocchi and gently stir to mix.
• Sprinkle with broken walnuts and serve immediately.

All thanks to the ladies of the Italian club for this recipe.