Tuscan Creamy Gnocchi

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 10

Servings: people

Calories: 376kcal

Author: Platings and Pairings

Simple Creamy Gnocchi is an irresistible Tuscan-inspired dish that tosses pillowy-soft potato gnocchi in a rich, creamy, and cheesy sauce. It’s Italian comfort food at its best!

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Equipment

Ingredients

16 ounces gnocchi
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic minced
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
⅓ cup julienned sun dried tomatoes in olive oil, drained
½ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more, to taste
Small handful fresh basil julienned

Instructions

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook gnocchi according to package instructions; drain well, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in white wine (or chicken broth) and cook, whisking constantly, until incorporated, about 1 minute.
Stir in heavy cream, sun dried tomatoes, mozzarella, parmesan, oregano and red pepper flakes until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
Stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Toss the gnocchi with the sauce adding cooking liquid as needed to thin out the sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

Tips and tricks

You’ll know the gnocchi are cooked perfectly when they float to the top of the pot of boiling water.
It’s important to drain the gnocchi as soon as you see them all floating to prevent them from becoming mushy. Shocking them in a bowl of ice water can also help maintain their shape and texture.
One of the secrets to a silky, smooth, and creamy gnocchi sauce is to gradually whisk the flour into the pan. Adding it all at once may leave you with a lumpy sauce.
Let the creamy sauce simmer gently until it’s thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Save a little time by making the cream sauce up to 2 days in advance. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, then gently reheat it in a skillet on the stove before tossing and serving it with freshly cooked gnocchi.

Variations

Serve with a protein – Toss your creamy gnocchi with diced grilled chicken, crispy pancetta, Italian sausage, or succulent shrimp.
Mix-in ideas – Add a pop of color and flavor to the dish by stirring in sautéed cherry tomatoes, spinach, asparagus, crumbled bacon, pancetta, caramelized onions, or sautéed mushrooms.
Tasty toppings – Take the presentation up a notch by sprinkling toasted pine nuts, crispy breadcrumbs, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze over the creamy gnocchi.
Alcohol-free – Feel free to use chicken broth instead of the white wine in the sauce.
Instead of the cream sauce – Swap the sauce for any of these Best Sauces for Gnocchi.

Nutrition