Description
Sausage gnocchi delight recipe brings comfort and Italian-inspired flavors to dinner tables with minimal preparation. Home cooks can savor this hearty meal that combines tender potato dumplings with robust sausage in a rich, aromatic sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 16 oz (454 g) potato gnocchi
- 4 cups (946 ml) chicken broth
- 1 can (14.5 oz or 411 g) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions
- Sausage Sizzle: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat, crumble sausage, and brown until deep golden, approximately 5-6 minutes. Remove meat and set aside.
- Aromatic Foundation: In the same pot, sauté diced onions until translucent, then add minced garlic and cook briefly to release fragrant notes without scorching.
- Liquid Symphony: Pour chicken broth, fire-roasted tomatoes, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes into the pot. Reintroduce browned sausage and stir to combine flavors thoroughly.
- Simmer and Meld: Allow mixture to gently simmer for 3-4 minutes, letting ingredients harmonize and develop depth.
- Gnocchi Integration: Drop potato gnocchi directly into the simmering liquid, cooking until they float and reach perfect tenderness, typically 3-4 minutes.
- Final Flourish: Fold in fresh spinach leaves, allowing them to wilt smoothly. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Serving Elegance: Transfer the robust mixture into serving bowls, crowning with a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a luxurious finish.
Notes
- Sear Sausage Perfectly: Brown meat until deep golden for maximum flavor development and rich caramelized exterior.
- Prevent Garlic Burning: Sauté garlic briefly (45-60 seconds) to release aromatics without creating bitter undertones.
- Gnocchi Doneness Trick: Watch for floating gnocchi as the ultimate indicator of perfect cooking – they’ll rise naturally when tender.
- Cheese Finale: Freshly grated Parmesan transforms the dish, adding luxurious depth and creamy saltiness to the entire preparation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg