Description
Comforting potato gnocchi with creamy spinach sauce combines Italian culinary traditions and simple home cooking. Cheese-topped pasta brings warmth and satisfaction to weekend family dinners you’ll savor completely.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb/0.45 kg uncooked potato gnocchi
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 (24 oz/680 g) jar marinara sauce
- 2 tbsps butter
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 handful fresh basil, torn
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), positioning rack in the upper third of the cooking chamber.
- Sauté Foundation: In an oven-safe skillet, melt butter over medium heat, then introduce chopped onions and sauté until golden and tender, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Aromatics and Sauce: Add minced garlic, stirring briefly, then pour marinara sauce over the vegetables, gently nestling uncooked gnocchi within the sauce and ensuring complete coating.
- Herb and Cheese Layer: Distribute torn basil leaves across the surface, then lavishly cover with shredded mozzarella, creating a promising canvas of melted potential.
- Baking Process: Transfer skillet to preheated oven, allowing ingredients to harmonize and bubble for 15 minutes, then activate broiler for an additional 2-3 minutes to achieve a golden, slightly crisp cheese topping.
- Finishing Touches: Remove from oven, let flavors settle, season with salt and pepper, then garnish with freshly grated Parmesan and additional basil leaves before serving this Mediterranean-inspired masterpiece immediately.
Notes
- Skillet Selection: Choose a cast-iron or oven-safe skillet for even heat distribution and seamless stovetop-to-oven transition.
- Onion Sautéing Technique: Cook onions slowly to develop deep, sweet caramelized flavors without burning.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Watch carefully during broiling to achieve perfect golden-brown cheese without burning.
- Resting Period: Allow the dish to rest for 2-3 minutes after cooking to let flavors meld and prevent burning your mouth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg