Recipe Review

I Tried The Pasta Queen’s “Siren’s Enchantment” Gnocchi and Will 100% Make It Again

published Dec 24, 2021
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Credit: Jesse Szewczyk

If you’re a fan of TikTok, chances are you’ve seen a video by The Pasta Queen. Whenever one of her videos pops up on my For You page, I always stop to watch it. Her recipes are equal parts exciting and comforting, presented in a carefree manner that makes them extra entertaining. Ricotta balls in red sauce? Yum! Pasta with peas and Parmesan? Intriguing! (And delicious!) I’ve never seen a Pasta Queen recipe that I didn’t want to make.

Recently my coworker sent me one of The Pasta Queen’s newest videos: a recipe for baked gnocchi she dubs “the siren’s enchantment.” It’s a bubbling, cheesy gnocchi bake that reminded me of baked ziti — and as someone who is a fan of both baked ziti and The Pasta Queen, I knew I needed to try it. I headed into my kitchen to whip it up.

Get the recipe: Siren’s Enchantment by The Pasta Queen

Credit: Jesse Szewczyk

How to Make The Pasta Queen’s “Siren’s Enchantment”

Although impressive, this recipe is actually surprisingly easy to make. There isn’t a written recipe, but her video gives plenty of detail so you can confidently make it at home.

You’ll start by sizzling minced garlic in olive oil until fragrant. Next, add crushed tomatoes, season to taste with salt, and add torn basil leaves. Meanwhile, cook store-bought gnocchi in a pot of boiling water, then add it to the sauce and toss to coat them. Add torn pieces of fresh mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese and stir them into the sauce so they melt, then top with additional mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake until browned and bubbling, and garnish with fresh basil and serve.

Credit: Jesse Szewczyk

My Honest Review of The Pasta Queen’s “Siren’s Enchantment”

Unsurprisingly, this dish was delicious. It tasted like a combination of a classic red-sauce gnocchi combined with baked ziti. The interior of the skillet was pleasantly cheesy and saucy, while the browned top provided a nice textural contrast. The flavor was a comforting, familiar-to-me mix of tomato sauce, Parmesan, and garlic that was impossible to dislike. It took beloved flavors and ingredients and combined them in a new way that made it interesting. I could see this recipe being a hit with just about anyone, from picky eaters to adventurous ones.

I also loved that the recipe was super simple to make. It took me under 30 minutes to whip up and didn’t require a ton of prep work. It’s a great weeknight meal that’s perfect for serving family-style. I’ll definitely make it again, and might even throw a few veggies in to mix it up. (Broccoli florets, cut asparagus, spinach — I could even see frozen peas working!)

Credit: Jesse Szewczyk

3 Tips for Making The Pasta Queen’s “Siren’s Enchantment”

Before heading into the kitchen, keep these three tips in mind.

  1. Use high-quality gnocchi. The bulk of this recipe is store-bought gnocchi, so it’s important they taste good. I splurged on a slightly pricier brand of gnocchi and don’t regret it. Check if your grocery store has refrigerated gnocchi, which typically tastes fresher than the shelf-stable variety.
  2. Feel free to use canned crushed tomatoes. The Pasta Queen’s recipe lists “fresh crushed tomatoes” as one of the ingredients, but I went ahead and used canned. (It’s December in New York!)
  3. Don’t skip the fresh basil. It’s not just for looks! The fresh basil brightens up the dish and adds a pop of freshness. With so much cheese, tomato sauce, and gnocchi, the basil really helped balance it out.

Get the recipe: Siren’s Enchantment by The Pasta Queen

Have you ever made a recipe from The Pasta Queen? Tell us what you thought in the comments!