Gnocchi of Farina (Gnocchi di Semolina)

Ingredients

• 2 cups Milk (Original recipe calls for 1 pint)
• 0.5 cup Semolina flour (Farina) (Original recipe calls for 1/4 cup)
• 1 Egg
• 4 tablespoons Butter (Divided)
• 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan cheese (Or Gruyere, divided)
• 0.25 teaspoon Salt

Instructions

1. 1In a saucepan, bring the milk to a boil over medium heat. Add salt.
2. 2Reduce heat to low. Using a wooden spoon and stirring constantly, slowly add the semolina flour little by little. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
3. 3Remove from heat and quickly mix in the egg until fully incorporated. Work quickly to prevent the egg from scrambling.
4. 4Spread the mixture onto a lightly oiled baking sheet or breadboard to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Let it cool completely (about 30 minutes).
5. 5Once cooled, cut the semolina mixture into squares or diamonds, about 2 inches across.
6. 6Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter a baking dish. Arrange a layer of the semolina squares in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and dot with butter. Repeat layers until the baking dish is full, ending with a layer of cheese and butter on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a brown crust forms.
7. 7Serve hot, directly from the baking dish.