Description
Italian-inspired Creamy Spinach and Sundried Tomato Gnocchi delivers rich, comforting flavors that blend perfectly on one delightful plate. Mediterranean ingredients create a quick weeknight meal you’ll savor with pure culinary satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pack (500g / 17.6 oz) gnocchi
- 300 ml / 1 cup vegetable stock
- 60g / 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 10 pieces sundried tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 150 ml / ¾ cup double cream (heavy cream)
- 50g / ½ cup Grana Padano cheese, finely grated
- 1 medium brown onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, very finely chopped or pressed
- 30g / 2 tbsps salted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 heaped tsp dried oregano
- 2 – 3 tbsps toasted pine nuts (optional)
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper + more for serving
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet and gently cook onions with a pinch of sea salt until they become translucent and soft, creating a fragrant base for the dish.
- Build Flavor Layers: Add dried oregano, garlic, and sundried tomatoes to the skillet, allowing their robust flavors to intertwine and intensify for a brief moment.
- Introduce Gnocchi: Melt butter into the aromatic mixture, then carefully fold in gnocchi, ensuring each dumpling is evenly coated and gently warmed through.
- Create Creamy Sauce: Pour vegetable stock and double cream into the skillet, seasoning with salt and black pepper. Simmer and stir until the sauce thickens and develops a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- Incorporate Greens: Gently fold fresh baby spinach into the creamy sauce, allowing it to wilt and seamlessly integrate, adding a vibrant green element to the dish.
- Finish and Garnish: Remove from heat and stir in Grana Padano cheese until the sauce becomes silky and glossy. Plate the gnocchi and top with toasted pine nuts, an extra sprinkle of cheese, and a final whisper of black pepper.
Notes
- Optimize Onion Sautéing: Cook onions slowly on medium-low heat to develop sweet, caramelized undertones without burning.
- Control Sauce Consistency: Watch the simmer closely; cream-based sauces can quickly separate or become too thick if overheated.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add Grana Padano off the heat to prevent graininess and ensure a smooth, velvety texture.
- Pine Nut Toasting Tip: Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning and release their rich, nutty flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 468
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg