Description
Rich butternut squash gnocchi delights home cooks with its comforting Italian-inspired flavors. Homemade pasta combines roasted squash, crispy sausage, and aromatic herbs for a memorable meal you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) Italian sausage, casings removed
- 10 oz (280 g) potato gnocchi
- 1 cup (240 ml) butternut squash puree
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) fresh sage, chopped
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Coarsely ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Liberate sausage from its casing and slice into delicate morsels, ensuring uniform cooking and flavor penetration.
- Caramelization: Heat olive oil in a generous skillet over medium flame. Introduce sausage pieces, rotating to achieve a golden-brown exterior that locks in robust flavors.
- Liquid Integration: Add gnocchi, heavy cream, and chicken broth to the sizzling skillet. Momentarily elevate heat to trigger a gentle boil, then reduce and cover, allowing gnocchi to absorb the surrounding essence while becoming tender.
- Flavor Layering: Incorporate butternut squash puree and finely chopped garlic, stirring with a delicate touch. Maintain a low simmer to encourage sauce reduction and create a sumptuous, velvety texture.
- Herb Infusion and Seasoning: Sprinkle sage and thyme throughout the skillet, releasing their aromatic essence. Calibrate salt and pepper to harmonize with the sausage’s natural salinity, creating a balanced flavor profile.
- Plating and Finale: Cascade the creamy gnocchi onto serving dishes, crowning with remaining fresh herbs. The verdant garnish provides a vibrant contrast to the rich, indulgent sauce.
Notes
- Sausage Preparation: Remove casing and slice into small, uniform pieces for even cooking and flavor distribution.
- Caramelization Technique: Brown sausage slowly in olive oil, turning pieces to develop deep, rich flavors and achieve golden color.
- Gnocchi Cooking Method: Add gnocchi with cream and broth, creating a gentle boil then reducing heat to allow absorption of surrounding flavors and achieve pillowy texture.
- Herb and Seasoning Strategy: Balance dish with fresh sage and thyme, carefully seasoning to complement the sausage’s natural saltiness while adding aromatic depth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg