Description
Indulge in the rich and comforting flavors of Creamy Marry Me Gnocchi, a dish designed to impress. This easy recipe combines tender gnocchi with a luscious creamy sauce, perfect for a romantic dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
- Potato gnocchi
- Lean ground beef (85-90%) or beef strips (sirloin or flank steak)
- Sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed)
- Garlic (minced)
- Yellow onion (finely diced)
- Beef broth (low-sodium)
- Heavy cream
- Fresh spinach
- Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- Dried Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh basil or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Before you start cooking, have everything prepped and ready. Dice your onion, mince your garlic, chop your sun-dried tomatoes, and measure out your broth and cream.
- Cook the Beef: In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add a tablespoon of the oil from your sun-dried tomatoes (or a little olive oil). Add your lean ground beef or beef strips. Cook until browned and cooked through. If using ground beef, drain any excess fat from the pan. Remove the beef from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Build the Sauce Base: Pour in the beef broth. Bring it to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Allow the broth to simmer gently for about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Cream and Seasoning: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, Italian seasoning, a pinch of red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Let the sauce gently warm through, stirring frequently.
- Cook the Gnocchi: While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the gnocchi and cook according to package directions, typically 2-3 minutes.
- Combine and Finish: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked gnocchi directly from the boiling water into the skillet with the creamy sauce. Add the cooked beef back into the skillet and stir gently.
- Wilt the Spinach: Add the fresh spinach to the skillet, stirring until it has fully wilted into the sauce.
- Serve: Stir in half of the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining Parmesan cheese and fresh basil or parsley.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: Don't overcook the gnocchi; they should float to the surface when done. Use quality ingredients for the best flavor, and taste the sauce at various stages to adjust seasonings as needed.