Tuscan Style Gnocchi. Some of the best moments spent in my kitchen is just creating my favorite comfort food. Pasta, pasta & more pasta. There are so many ways you can change up a recipe to make that boring pasta into something authentic and delicious. Sauté some roasted vegetable, swap out your traditional spaghetti sauce for a light creamy sauce. There are endless possibilities in creating an explosion of flavors in your mouth.
Love…love…love
While we all love our pasta in all shapes and sizes from spaghetti, rigatoni, stuffed shells to that pan of lasagna you spend all day preparing because everyone knows a great lasagna made with love isn’t rushed and anything less than love just doesn’t feed your soul. That is a recipe for another day! Here I will keep it simple, delicious and on the table in 30 minutes or less.
Something new..
Let’s explore something a little out of the box. Gnocchi, if you have never tried Gnocchi, you have absolutely no idea how these bite size little pasta balls as I call them will have you craving more and more. Traditionally, they are an Italian pasta commonly made with cooked mashed potatoes , flour and egg. It can be found already prepared at your local grocery store or if you like to try your hand at making them by scratch, by all means, make your magic happen. While they are fantastic in any pasta recipe or on the side of any protein of your choice, I’m going to share a quick and simple meal. One that can be made any day of the week that will make you want to try your hand at making this recipe your own. Come explore the makings of Tuscan Style Gnocchi where simple is still limitless in flavor!
Rustic Cooking is only as Abstract as you make it
~Sandy M
Tuscan Gnocchi
Equipment
- Skillet
- Pot
Ingredients
Pasta
- 16 oz Gnocchi
Produce
- 2 cups Fresh Spinach
- 12 oz Cherry Tomatoes
- 1 Small White Onion
- 6 Spears of Asparagus
- 1 tsp Fresh Minced Garlic
- 1 Juice of a Lemon
- Chopped Scallions
Dairy
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/4 cup Grated Asiago/Parmesan Cheese Blend
- 3 tbsp Butter
Seasonings
- 1 tsp Salt Free Garlic Herb Seasoning Blend
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes Optional
Oil
- Olive Oil
Instructions
Prep Vegetables
- Slice Cherry Tomatoes in half and set aside.
- Chop White Onion to small pieces and set aside.
- Chop Asparagus to bite size pieces and toss out the tough ends at the bottom and set aside.
Prepare Gnocchi
- Using a Pot, begin to cook Gnocchi as directed on packaging.
Meanwhile…
- Heat a large Skillet on medium.
- Add a little Olive Oil, 1 tablespoon of Butter, Onion Powder and Minced Garlic stirring it periodically until it starts to sizzle careful not to let Garlic burn. Should start to smell fragrant.
- Add Sliced Cherry Tomatoes and White Onion into Skillet until Tomatoes start to soften and Onions start to turn transparent.
- You will then add the Chopped Asparagus and continue to sauté, you want them a little tender but to still maintain a bright green coloring and a slight crunch.
- At this point, your Gnocchi's should be done.
- Using a slotted spoon, scoop Gnocchi's directly into the Skillet stirring so that the Gnocchi's are coated with the mixture.
- Add Heavy Cream, Asiago/Parmesan Blend and stir to incorporate. Sauce will thicken as it is heated.
- Add fresh Spinach and continue to stir. Spinach will soften as it is cooked into the sauce.
- Proceed with adding remaining 2 tablespoons of Butter, Salt & Pepper to taste and if you are anything like me, I like a little heat so Pepper Flakes is a must.
- Give it a last stir, plate and top off with Scallions.I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
