gnocchi and pesto

First, prepare the pesto. Tip the parmesan into a blender or food processor. Peel the garlic, tear the leaves from the bunch of basil and add both along with the oil and pine nuts. Blitz to a paste, season to taste and set aside.

Now for the gnocchi, tip the parmesan into a medium bowl. Add the thyme (or the dried oregano) along with the mascarpone, plain flour, eggs and salt and pepper, to taste. Mix together to give a soft dough. Then tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead together to form a smooth ball.

Divide the mixture in three and roll each one out into a sausage about 60cm/23in long. Cut each Âsausage into 2cm/1 in pieces to give about 30 (so 90 in total). Halfway through, put a large frying pan on a medium to high heat with a drizzle of oil and the butter.

Divide the gnocchi between the two pans and turn down low. Leave the gnocchi to cook on one side for a minute, before carefully turning them over with a fish slice. Cook for a further four minutes, continuing to gently turn them every so often until they are crisp and golden all over and warmed through. If the gnocchi didn't fit in your pans then tip the cooked ones in a bowl, cover with tin foil to keep warm and cook the remainder, adding more oil and butter as necessary.

Once all the gnocchi are cooked, stir the pesto through until evenly coated. Add in the rocket leaves and mix together. Then, divide between four serving plates and scatter the pine nuts over. Give a good grind of black pepper and serve.