Baked Gnocchi with Italian Sausage, Grape Tomatoes, and Mozzarella
Servings 4
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Large pot
- Large Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil
- ½ lb ground sweet Italian sausage
- Handful of grape tomatoes
- 1 shallot diced
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes to taste
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 (28-oz) can of whole tomatoes
- Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 12 oz of Parmesan gnocchi prepared per package instructions
- 1 heaping cup of baby spinach chopped
- Fresh mozzarella, torn or shredded to taste
- Fresh basil torn
- Parmesan grated
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up into crumbles and stirring often, for 3 minutes.
- Add the grape tomatoes, shallot, and crushed red pepper flakes, then cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.
- Add the canned tomatoes and reduce the heat to low; simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally while breaking up the tomatoes with the spoon. Taste and season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste.
- Cook the gnocchi in a large pot of well-salted boiling water, according to the package instructions, for about 3 minutes; drain, reserving ½cup of the cooking water.
- Add the drained gnocchi to the tomato sauce, along with a touch of the cooking water if needed.
- Add the fresh baby spinach and toss to coat evenly.
- Place into a baking dish and top with pieces of ripped mozzarella (or shredded is fine too).
- Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
- If you want to brown the cheese, place the baking dish under the broiler for a minute or two -watch it carefully so it doesn't burn!
- Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
- Add the fresh basil to the top and serve with Parmesan on the side. Enjoy.