Gnocchetti sardi (Malloreddus) alla campidanese
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Gnocchetti sardi (Malloreddus) alla Campidanese: A Taste of Sardinian Summers
Whenever I think of gnocchetti sardi (Malloreddus) alla Campidanese, I’m instantly transported back to my childhood summers in Sardinia. My uncle, auntie, and cousins would welcome me with open arms, and the days felt endless—filled with laughter, homemade meals, and the warm Mediterranean sun. This dish, rich with flavors of sausage, tomato, and pecorino, perfectly captures those memories: a comforting hug on a plate.
Ingredients (serves 4)
From our kitchen to yours
- 400g malloreddus (Sardinian gnocchetti)
- 250g Italian sausage (mild or spicy, your choice!)
- 50g Pecorino sardo, freshly grated
From your pantry:
- 400g canned chopped tomatoes
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- A pinch of saffron (optional, for a golden touch)
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions:
Boil the malloreddus:
Bring a pot of salted water to a lively bubble and add the pasta. Watch them dance around like little Sardinian festival-goers. Drain and set aside.
Sauté with love:
Heat olive oil in a pan. Add onions and garlic, and let them soften while filling your kitchen with the kind of smells that make you feel like a kid sneaking into your auntie’s kitchen.
Sausage time:
Crumble the sausage into the pan. Let it brown and sizzle—this is where the magic begins, like the laughter of cousins echoing through a sun-soaked courtyard.
Tomato hugs:
Stir in the chopped tomatoes. Dissolve the saffron in a little warm water before adding it to the sauce.. Let the sauce simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, imagining all the summer stories being told around a long family table.
Mix it up:
Toss the malloreddus into the sauce. Stir until every little gnocchetto is coated in that glorious tomato-sausage goodness—like each one got a warm Sardinian hug.
The finishing touch:
Sprinkle with Pecorino sardo and fresh parsley. Take a moment to inhale the aroma—it’s pure nostalgia in a bowl.
Serving Suggestion:
Serve hot, preferably while telling stories of summers past. Pair with a glass of Cannonau red wine, or just a glass of water while you reminisce about barefoot adventures, garden chases with cousins, and sneaky bites of your auntie’s biscotti.
Little memory bite:
Every forkful takes me back to Sardinia—the laughter, the sunshine, the family. Malloreddus alla Campidanese isn’t just pasta; it’s a summer, a story, and a warm hug all rolled into one delicious plate.
Get all you need:
For the pecorino cheese, pick from any of our sheep milk cheese and try different flavours.
For the sauces, feel free to swap the chopped tomatoes for datterino or cherry tomato sauce.