All I Want to Eat Right Now Is This Cheesy Baked Gnocchi with Tomatoes
Gnocchi are one of my most nostalgic comfort foods. Those pillowy little dumplings are so soft, chewy, and kid-friendly. They were my favorite pasta shape after macaroni. As an adult, I particularly appreciate their versatility. You can boil them and toss them in sauce, or cook them on a baking sheet and make them nice and crispy. And if you’re looking for the easiest, most hands-off way to make gnocchi for dinner, just pile them into a baking dish, and cover them with sauce and cheese. It’s a carb-heavy and super-comforting dinner that’s as easy as it is delicious.
The author covers the gnocchi in a simple tomato sauce with fresh basil and mozzarella. But the beauty of this technique is that you can use almost any sauce you like, and add whatever extra ingredients you have on hand. This is a great way to use up leftovers. Add ground meat, browned sausage, or leftover chicken from the grocery store. Stir in peas, broccoli, or spinach for some extra vegetables. You could even try a pesto sauce instead.
Cooking the gnocchi in the sauce like this makes everything taste thicker, heartier, and wonderfully satisfying, especially with lots of melted cheese on top.
Any kind of gnocchi will work for this preparation. Refrigerated, frozen, or dried gnocchi all work perfectly. Homemade gnocchi is always a special treat. The same is true of the sauce, too. You can use any jarred sauce, or make your own from scratch. This recipe can be as effortless or as hands-on as you want to make it. However you choose to personalize it, a dish of baked gnocchi is just the kind of warming, family-friendly comfort food that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner in the middle of winter.
Get the Recipe: Baked Gnocchi from Cooking Classy
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