Toasted Gnocchi with Spinach

Though gnocchi is made from potatoes, they are as versatile as pasta. Gnocchi toasted with a bit of spinach and lemon makes a quick appetizer or meal.

In the last year, I’ve been experimenting with more recipes that use gnocchi. That’s how I came up with this recipe for Toasted Gnocchi with Spinach. The gnocchi is always my favorite part of Chicken & Gnocchi Soup, but I didn’t realize there would be many ways to use it. I love gnocchi, with its pillowy-soft texture and perfect bite-sized pieces. And of course, I will eat almost anything with potatoes, so gnocchi is right up my alley.

Now that I’ve been looking, there are multiple options for gnocchi. Cook the gnocchi with butter and sage. Put it in a red sauce similar to spaghetti. Cook it in soups. Toast it with spinach.

There are a few ways to make gnocchi. Typically from potato or wheat flour with egg, breadcrumbs, cornmeal, or other similar ingredients. You can get them either plain or flavored with seasonings. Gnocchi is Italian in origin and dates back to the Roman era. The singular form of the word is gnoccho. But since there is usually a group of them, that word is hardly ever used. Gnocchi is believed to be the predecessor of pasta.

Originally, gnocchi was made with soft wheat flour. But that didn’t give a uniform texture. It was discovered that potatoes gave a better texture. Then most started to make their gnocchi with potatoes. The flour versions weren’t common anymore. Potato gnocchi started around the 16th-17th century after the Spanish brought potatoes to Italy from South America.

I am quickly learning that gnocchi is as versatile as any other type of pasta. Maybe even more.

When we made this recipe the first time, the lemon was a little overpowering for us. Since then I cut back on the lemon juice. Now it’s more of a garnish. It tasted much better that way. If you like a lot of lemon flavor, then go ahead and increase the amount to one tablespoon of lemon juice.

You can use this as a light meatless main dish, or as an appetizer or side for other meals.

Step by Step

Heat two tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the gnocchi. Stir occasionally until the gnocchi start to brown on the outside, about 8-10 minutes.

Add the minced garlic and thyme and stir for one minute. Then mix in the chicken broth, salt, and pepper, bringing it to a boil.

Cook everything until the liquid has reduced by half. This takes about 5-7 minutes. Then add the spinach, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, and the remaining two tablespoons of butter. Stir constantly to keep from scalding. Wilt the spinach and melt the butter.

Top with parmesan cheese and serve immediately because this will cool very quickly.

Recipe

Toasted Gnocchi with Spinach

Though gnocchi is made from potatoes, they are as versatile as pasta. Gnocchi toasted with a bit of spinach and lemon makes a quick appetizer or meal.

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Course:

Side Dish

Cuisine:

American

Keyword:

gnocchi

|

lemon

|

spinach

Servings: 2 cups

5 from 8 votes

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp butter
• 17 oz potato gnocchi
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 2 tsp thyme
• 14.5 oz chicken broth
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 5 oz spinach leaves
• 1 tbsp parsley
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Recommended Equipment

• Garlic Press
• Skillet
• Lemon Zester
• Juicer

Instructions

• In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp of butter over medium-high heat
• Add the gnocchi to the pan and stir often until they are browned, about 8-10 minutes
• Add the minced garlic and thyme, stirring for about one minute
• Mix in the chicken broth, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil, cooking until reduced by half, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally
• Add the spinach, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, and remaining 2 tbsp of butter
• Stir constantly until the spinach has wilted and the butter is melted
• Garnish with parmesan and serve immediately

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Nutrition Facts

Toasted Gnocchi with Spinach

Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)

Calories 360 Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g25%

Saturated Fat 10g50%

Cholesterol 39mg13%

Sodium 1060mg44%

Potassium 280mg8%

Carbohydrates 46g15%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 3902IU78%

Vitamin C 20mg24%

Calcium 220mg22%

Iron 6mg33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnocchi
2. https://www.saveur.com/article/food/history-of-gnocchi#page-2

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