Shopping in Italy: Rome's Mercato Garbatella 🛒 Thursday Gnocchi Recipe

Ciao guys! Welcome to my official first vlog! I filmed this over two months ago but only just found the courage to share it. Putting myself out there like this is a bit nerve-wracking—the internet can be an intimidating place, but I am embracing the imperfections and diving in!

We’re kicking off the day at Mercato Garbatella, one of Rome’s most vibrant and colorful markets. It’s filled with fresh produce, friendly vendors, and unbeatable prices. The local markets are one of my favorite parts of life here in Italy. I feel so fortunate to call this my reality.

After we're cooking up crema di fagiolini with gorgonzola gnocchi. This dish is creamy, comforting, and packed with veggies!. Perfect for a Roman Gnocchi Thursday (or any day, really!).

Here’s how you can make it:

Ingredients:
1–2 handfuls of fagiolini (green beans), trimmed and cut into chunks
1 onion, peeled and finely sliced
120g (4 oz) gorgonzola
350g potato-based gnocchi (high-quality makes all the difference)
High-quality olive oil (a must!)
Escarole (optional but adds a nice touch)
¼ cup reserved pasta water
Salt and black pepper
Instructions:

1. Heat a drizzle of high-quality olive oil in a saucepan.
2. Add the sliced onion and green beans, cooking until the onion turns translucent.
3. Remove half of the mixture and blend it with an immersion blender, adding the reserved pasta water and gorgonzola. Blend to your desired consistency (smooth and creamy is ideal).
4. Add escarole (if using) to the remaining vegetables in the pan and cook for 2 more minutes.
5. Boil the gnocchi in heavily salted water. Once they float, transfer them to the pan with the vegetables.
6. Combine everything, drizzle with more olive oil, and top with extra gorgonzola if you like. Finish with a sprinkle of black pepper.

Thank you so much for watching and for supporting me on this journey. Your encouragement means the world to me, and it’s why I finally decided to share this with you. Let me know how you like the recipe and what you’d like to see next. ❤️

Ciao for now! 👋