Description
Creamy Tomato Gnocchi is a comforting and flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring fresh gnocchi cooked in a rich, creamy tomato sauce with garlic, cherry tomatoes, and Italian herbs, topped with melted mozzarella and fresh basil for a delightful finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 100g cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 Garlic cloves, minced
Sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) water or vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp lighter cream cheese
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Main Ingredients
- 300g fresh gnocchi
- 50g mozzarella, thinly sliced
- Fresh basil, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Sauté Onions: Heat oil in a skillet or pan over low heat. Add the diced red onion and sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened.
- Add Garlic and Tomatoes: Stir in the minced garlic and halved cherry tomatoes, continuing to cook gently.
- Create Sauce Base: Mix in dried oregano, Italian seasoning, thyme, and tomato paste; pour in vegetable broth or water to deglaze and combine flavors.
- Simmer Tomatoes: Let the tomato mixture simmer for 7-8 minutes, breaking down the tomatoes with the back of a spoon to form a thick sauce.
- Add Cream Cheese and Gnocchi: Stir in the lighter cream cheese and fresh gnocchi; cook for about 2 minutes until cream cheese melts, coating the gnocchi in creamy tomato sauce.
- Season and Prepare for Grilling: Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste, then either layer the gnocchi and sauce in an oven-safe dish or keep it in the skillet. Top with thin slices of mozzarella.
- Grill to Finish: Place under a grill for up to 5 minutes until the mozzarella melts fully and the gnocchi edges turn crispy.
- Garnish and Serve: Scatter fresh basil over the top and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce is too thick.
- Use fresh gnocchi for best results; frozen gnocchi may alter cooking time.
- For a richer sauce, substitute lighter cream cheese with regular cream cheese or add a splash of heavy cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 200g)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
