Description
Millionaire Gnocchi with Red Sauce, Herbed Ricotta, and Golden Crispies is a comforting Italian-inspired dish that features pan-cooked gnocchi tossed in a rich, savory tomato and Italian sausage sauce. Topped with a bright, zesty herbed ricotta and crispy browned bits, this recipe delivers layers of flavor and contrasting textures for a satisfying meal that serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce and Sausage
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage or meatless alternative
- 1-2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, minced
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and red pepper flakes to taste
Herbed Ricotta
- 6-8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 small clove garlic, grated
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- Salt to taste
- Minced herbs to taste (chives, parsley, and/or thyme)
Gnocchi
- Two 16-ounce packages pre-cooked gnocchi
Instructions
- Brown the sausage: Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the ground Italian sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until fully browned and cooked through. Remove the sausage from the pan. Optionally, drain excess fat or keep it for richer flavor in the sauce.
- Simmer the sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add olive oil, minced onion, and minced garlic to the same pan. Sauté until the onion is fragrant and translucent. Stir in crushed tomatoes and dried oregano. Return the browned sausage back to the pan. Allow the sauce to simmer gently over low heat for 30-45 minutes. Season with salt and red pepper flakes to taste.
- Make the herbed ricotta: While the sauce simmers, combine ricotta cheese, grated garlic, lemon zest and juice, salt, and your choice of minced herbs (chives, parsley, thyme) in a small bowl. Mix well and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Cook the gnocchi: Prepare the pre-cooked gnocchi according to the package instructions, typically boiling for a few minutes until they float to the surface. Drain well.
- Combine gnocchi and sauce: Add the cooked gnocchi directly into the sauce pan. Stir gently to coat and bring to a low simmer, allowing the gnocchi to soak up the flavors and brown slightly in the sauce.
- Serve the dish: Plate the gnocchi and sauce mixture hot. Top each serving with a generous dollop of the herbed ricotta and a sprinkling of any crispy browned bits from the pan for added texture and flavor. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- You can substitute ground Italian sausage with a plant-based meat alternative for a vegetarian version.
- To achieve the golden crispies, let the gnocchi and sauce simmer gently so the gnocchi can brown slightly in the pan.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your heat preference.
- The herbed ricotta adds a bright, creamy contrast—don’t skip this step.
- For even richer flavor, don’t discard the sausage drippings; they infuse the sauce with depth.
