Balsamic Prime Rib with Pumpkin Gnocchi

Balsamic Prime Rib with Pumpkin Gnocchi completed dish

Beef Prime Rib is a succulent cut of meat.  It has many rich pockets of fat and is covered with a cap of fat which lends much flavor to the meat and keeps its moist.  Usually roasted in sections of at least two ribs, this can prove to be too much meat for the home cook. Especially considering that one rib section can easily weigh up to four pounds!

This recipe combines two cooking methods –  pan-frying to seal the cut and give it an appealing color and roasting to finish it off.  Furthermore, it only uses one section making this expensive cut more accessible.

There is not much that you need to add to the Prime Rib to serve up a great meal.  Olive oil and Balsamic vinegar bring out the natural flavors of the meat beautifully.

When choosing cuts of meat always give preference to Free-Range or pasture fed beef which has been raised without the use of growth hormones and antibiotics.

Balsamic Prime Rib with Pumpkin Gnocchi

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

For the Prime Rib

  • 1 section of Prime Rib
  • 60 ml olive oil
  • 60 ml Balsamic vinegar
  • 5 ml fresh ground black pepper
  • 5 ml Himalayan salt

For the Pumpkin Gnocchi

  • 1 kg of cubed pumpkin
  • 220 gram of “00” Flour
  • 1 egg
  • 5 ml of sea salt
  • 125 ml grated Parmesan
  • 125 ml fresh cream
  • 250 ml chicken stock
  • 60 ml butter

Fresh parsley and your choice of vegetables to serve

Instructions

For the Beef Prime Rib

  1. Preheat oven to 120 degrees Celcius / 248 degrees Fahrenheit / Gas mark 1/2.

  2. Season the Prime Rib with freshly ground black pepper and Himalayan salt.

  3. Lay the Prime Rib section in a dish and pour the olive oil and Balsamic vinegar over it. Flip it over and make sure that the marinade covers the whole surface.

  4. Put aside for at least one hour at room temperature or in the fridge overnight.

  5. Heat a heavy bottom frying pan over a high heat and seal the Prime Rib.  

  6. Put in an oven tray and cook for one hour.  

  7. Rest before slicing.  

For the Gnocchi:

  1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celcius / 320 degrees Fahrenheit / Gas mark 3.

  2. Line an oven tray with aluminum foil. Spread the pumpkin cubes out in a single layer. Place in oven and bake until soft, but not mushy.

  3. While the pumpkin is still hot put it through a ricer or mash with a potato masher.  

  4. Mix one egg and the flour until a dough forms. It should not be sticky, but not too firm. 

  5. Set the Gnocchi dough aside to rest while you bring a large pot of water to the boil.

  6. Divide the dough into four pieces and roll each piece into a sausage about an inch thick.  

  7. Cut into little thumbs.

  8. Drop into the boiling water and remove once the Gnocchi comes up to the surface.

  9. Fry in butter until the Gnocchi starts to brown. 

  10. Stir in the half cup of grated parmesan followed by the cream and chicken stock. 

  11. Adjust seasoning to taste.

To Serve:

  1. Serve with your choice of vegetables. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Equipment:

Heavy bottomed frying pan, oven tray, large pot, sharp knife, slotted spoon, cutting board, ricer or masher.

Step 1: Preparation

Read through the entire recipe and have all your ingredients together.  The real secret to a successful dish is preparing properly before cooking even starts.

When making Gnocchi be sure to familiarise yourself with the other steps of the recipes and prepare everything at the right time to make the process as enjoyable as possible.

Step 2: Marinade the Prime Rib

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 2 marinade the prime rib first picture

Remove the Prime Rib section from any packaging.  Season the meat thoroughly with freshly ground black pepper and Himalayan salt.  Place the Prime Rib in a dish and pour the Olive Oil and Balsamic vinegar over the meat, making sure to cover all of it.  Set aside for at least one hour at room temperature or leave overnight in the fridge.

Step 3: Prepare the pumpkin for making Gnocchi

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 3 preparing the pumpking under header

Line an oven tray with aluminum foil and spread out the cubed pumpkin in a single layer.

Bake at 160 degrees Celcius / 320 degrees Fahrenheit / Gas mark 3 in a preheated oven until tender.  This may take up to two hours. You don’t want the pumpkin to darken too much so be patient.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 3 preparing the pumpkin before once the pumpkin is ready

Once the pumpkin is ready, put it through a ricer or mash it immediately.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 3 preparing the pumpkin before step 4

You will have approximately 400 gram of mashed pumpkin.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 3 preparing the pumpkin after mashed pumpkin

Step 4: Preparing the Gnocchi

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 4 preparing the gnocchi before stire the egg

Stir the egg and flour through the mashed pumpkin to form a soft dough.  The dough should not be sticky. Add small amounts of flour at a time if necessary.  Allow to rest while a large pot of water is brought to a boil. Salt the water generously.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 4 preparing the gnocchi after salt the water generously

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 4 preparing the gnocchi before divide the gnocchi

Divide the Gnocchi dough into four and roll into sausages about an inch thick.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 4 preparing the gnocchi after an inch thick

Using a floured cutting board will make this easier.  Cut into thumb-sized pieces.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 4 preparing the gnocchi after sized pieces

Use a fork press into each piece lightly to make shallow indentations.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 4 preparing the gnocchi before working in batches

Working in batches, drop the Gnocchi into the water.  Remove immediately with a slotted spoon when the pieces rise to the top.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 4 preparing the gnocchi gnocchi rising to the top of water

Step 5: Cooking the Prime Rib

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 5 cooking the Prime rib first picture

Heat a heavy bottomed frying pan until it is smoking hot.  Working quickly, start with the fat cap and seal all sides of the section.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 5 cooking the Prime rib start

Place the section in an oven tray and place in a preheated oven at 120 degrees Celcius / 248 degrees Fahrenheit / Gas mark ½ for one hour.  The outer strip of meat should now be a beautiful pink medium-rare. The different parts of the section will cook at different paces, with the meat closest to the bone taking longer to reach temperature than the outside layer.

Use a meat thermometer to be certain.  For Medium-Rare you need to reach 55 degrees Celsius or 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cover the tray with a piece of aluminum foil while it rests.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 5 cooking the prime rib end picture

Step 6: Finishing the Gnocchi

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi Step 6 Finishing the Gnocchi before stir in

Once the meat is resting heat the butter over a medium heat.

When the butter is starting to bubble add in the Gnocchi and fry until golden.

Stir in the half cup of grated Parmesan followed by the cream and chicken stock.  Adjust seasoning to taste.

Balsamic Prime Rib and Gnocchi step 6 finishing the gnocchi before if you

If you choose to serve vegetables with the meal, ensure now that it is hot and ready to be served.

Step 7: Bringing it all together

Start by slicing the meat away from the bone.  Next portion off the outside layer meat under the fat cap.  The Ribeye may be cut in half for shorter slices. Proceed to slice the meat.

Portion the Gnocchi between six plates.  Arrange the sliced beef on top and garnish with freshly cut parsley.

Balsamic Prime Rib with Pumpkin Gnocchi completed dish

Tips:

  • To prepare an entire standing rib roast marinade as per instruction. Instead of sealing off in the pan preheat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius or 428 degrees Fahrenheit.  Cook for 5 minutes before turning the heat down to 120 degrees Celcius / 248 degrees Fahrenheit until the internal temperature of 55 degrees Celsius / 130 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached.