Potato Gnocchi With Tomato-Basil Sauce

Preparation

1. FOR THE GNOCCHI:

   1. Step 1

      Peel the potatoes, and boil them until tender. Drain, and refrigerate overnight.

   2. Step 2

      Mash the potatoes well, or pass them through a ricer until smooth. Spread the potatoes on a flat surface, and make a well in the middle. In a bowl, beat the egg yolks and pour them into the center of the well. Add the olive oil and salt and pepper. Stir slowly.

   3. Step 3

      While mixing, knead in the flour and the potatoes a little at a time. The dough should be moist but not sticky.

   4. Step 4

      On a floured work surface take one-fourth of the dough, and knead until it feels smooth (about 2 to 3 minutes). Roll the dough into a log approximately 1 inch thick. Cut the log into ½-inch-long pieces. Dust the pieces with flour. Repeat with the rest of the dough.

   5. Step 5

      To give the dough the traditional gnocchi shape, place a piece of dough over the side of a cheese grater that has three or four long smile-shaped holes. Press the dough down over the hole, and gently roll it out to give it a shell shape. (This takes a few tries to get the technique.) Repeat with all the dough.

   6. Step 6

      Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi all at once, and stir gently so they do not stick to the pot. When they are done they will float to the top. With a perforated spoon, remove them and serve immediately, or drop them into ice water until needed, then briefly reheat in boiling water.

2. FOR THE SAUCE:

   1. Step 7

      In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium flame and add the garlic. Cook until the garlic is golden. Increase heat to high, and add all of the tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes break open. Lower heat to simmer, and cook for 30 minutes.

   2. Step 8

      About 10 minutes before the sauce is done, add the basil leaves, season with salt and pepper, and stir gently. Taste for seasonings and serve.