Description
Creamy Italian Sausage Gnocchi Delight blends hearty Italian sausage with pillowy potato gnocchi in a rich, velvety sauce. Rustic comfort meets gourmet elegance, inviting you to savor each luxurious, flavor-packed bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 375 grams (¾ lb) mild Italian sausage, casings removed
Starch:
- 500 grams (1 lb) dried potato gnocchi
Dairy and Sauce:
- 1½ cups tomato-based pasta sauce
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1½ cups chopped fresh spinach
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat and crumble the Italian sausage into the pan, cooking thoroughly until the meat transforms into golden-brown, crispy fragments, breaking it down into small, uniform pieces.
- Pour the tomato sauce and heavy cream into the skillet with the caramelized sausage, seasoning generously with salt (or 2.5 grams) and freshly ground black pepper (or 0.5 grams). Whisk the ingredients together until they form a smooth, integrated sauce.
- Gently introduce the packaged gnocchi directly into the simmering sauce, ensuring each potato dumpling becomes completely enveloped in the rich, creamy mixture. Allow the contents to bubble softly, reducing heat to prevent scorching.
- Cover the skillet and let the gnocchi poach for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring intermittently to prevent adherence to the pan’s surface. If the sauce appears excessively thick, gradually introduce 2 to of water or chicken broth to maintain a luxurious consistency.
- Fold the freshly chopped spinach leaves into the skillet, allowing them to wilt naturally from the residual heat and absorb the surrounding flavors.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese across the surface, creating a blanket of melting dairy that will cascade over the gnocchi. Cover momentarily to encourage complete cheese melting.
Notes
- Opt for fresh, high-quality Italian sausage to enhance the dish’s rich flavor profile.
- Ensure gnocchi are cooked perfectly by stirring frequently and monitoring sauce consistency during simmering.
- Mozzarella cheese melts beautifully when added off direct heat, creating a creamy, luxurious finish.
- Chopped spinach adds nutritional value and vibrant color to the hearty one-pan meal.
- Select soft, pillowy gnocchi that will absorb the creamy tomato sauce effectively.
- Adjust sauce thickness with water or broth if it becomes too dense during cooking.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 655 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1100 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg