Description
A rich and comforting Creamy Tuscan Gnocchi recipe featuring golden sautéed gnocchi simmered in a luscious Parmesan cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and fresh basil, ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 pound gnocchi, uncooked
Seasonings
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup vegetable stock
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Greens & Garnish
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely sliced
Instructions
- Melt Butter: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until bubbly, about 1 minute.
- Sauté Gnocchi and Garlic: Add the finely chopped garlic and uncooked gnocchi to the skillet. Sauté until the gnocchi turns golden brown on most sides, approximately 5 minutes. Note that the gnocchi does not need to be fully cooked through at this stage.
- Add Seasonings and Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, salt, and ground black pepper. Cook the mixture for another 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant.
- Simmer Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream, vegetable stock, and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix well and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and the gnocchi becomes tender, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Incorporate Spinach: Add the baby spinach and cook until wilted, roughly 1 minute.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat. Garnish with finely sliced fresh basil and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use fresh gnocchi for best texture; frozen gnocchi can also be used but may require slightly longer cooking.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the crushed red pepper to taste.
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter version, but sauce may be less rich.
- Vegetable stock can be replaced with chicken stock if not strictly vegetarian.
- For gluten-free options, use gluten-free gnocchi made from alternative flours.
