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1
Make the gnocchi In a saucepan, cover the potatoes with 1 inch of water and cook over moderate heat until tender, 15 minutes; drain and pass through a food mill or ricer into a bowl.
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2
Add the egg yolks, 1 1/3 cups of flour, salt and nutmeg; gently mix until the dough starts to come together.
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3
Gently knead on a floured work surface, dusting with flour if sticky.
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4
Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces.
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5
Make the gnocchi Roll out one piece of dough into a 3/4-inch-thick rope; keep the remaining dough covered with a damp kitchen towel.
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6
Cut the rope into 1-inch pieces and lightly dust with flour.
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7
Roll each piece against the tines of a fork or a gnocchi paddle to make ridges.
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8
Transfer the gnocchi to a lightly floured baking sheet.
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9
Repeat with the remaining dough.
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10
Make the gnocchi Working in 2 batches, cook the gnocchi in a large pot of salted boiling water until they rise to the surface, about 2 minutes.
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11
Then simmer until just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes.
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12
Transfer to an ice bath and let cool.
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13
Drain well and let dry on paper towels.
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14
Make the crab sauce In a saucepan, bring the stock to a simmer.
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15
Add the crabs, cover partially and simmer over high heat until the liquid is reduced to 2 cups, 15 minutes.
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16
Strain into a bowl; discard the crabs.
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17
Make the crab sauce In the same saucepan, heat the olive oil.
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18
Add the onion, fennel, garlic and crushed red pepper and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until tender, 5 minutes.
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19
Add the reduced crab stock, cream, vermouth, thyme, tarragon and bay leaf and bring to a boil.
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20
Simmer over moderately high heat until reduced to 2 cups, 15 minutes.
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21
Discard the tarragon and bay leaf.
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22
Make the crab sauce In a skillet, heat half of the pan sauce.
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23
Add half of the gnocchi and cook over moderate heat until hot, 2 minutes.
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24
Add half of the crab and 1 1/2 tablespoons of the butter; cook until warmed through and the sauce is slightly thickened, 2 minutes.
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25
Season with salt and transfer to a platter.
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26
Repeat with the remaining pan sauce, gnocchi, crab and butter.
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27
Garnish with the cheese and serve at once.
