Zuni Ricotta Gnocchi

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh ricotta (2 cups)
• 2 large cold eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 or 3 fresh sage leaves, chopped, or a few pinches of freshly grated nutmeg, or a few pinches of chopped lemon zest (all optional)
• ½ ounce parmigiano-reggiano, grated (about ¼ cup very lightly packed)
• about ¼ teaspoon salt (a little more if using kosher salt)
• all purpose flour, for forming the gnocchi
• 8 tablespoons butter, sliced
• 2 teaspoons water