Description
A quick and delicious creamy tomato and mascarpone gnocchi dish featuring sautéed broccoli, fresh cherry tomatoes, and a hint of red chilli for a touch of heat. This comforting meal combines tender gnocchi with a luscious mascarpone sauce, fresh basil, and savory garlic for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 small head of broccoli, stalk and florets roughly chopped
- 1 red chilli, finely chopped, deseeded if preferred
- 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
- 200g fresh cherry tomatoes, halved
- small handful of basil leaves, picked
Other Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 300g chilled gnocchi
- 25g mascarpone
Instructions
- Heat the oil and cook broccoli: Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a large, deep frying pan and warm over medium heat. Add the chopped broccoli stalks and florets, frying for about 5 minutes until they turn golden brown and start to soften.
- Add chilli, garlic, and tomatoes: Stir in the finely chopped red chilli and sliced garlic cloves with the broccoli. Then add the halved fresh cherry tomatoes. Gently fry everything together for another 5 minutes until the tomatoes soften and begin to burst, releasing their juices into the pan.
- Cook the gnocchi: Tip the chilled gnocchi into the frying pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gnocchi are tender, heated through, and lightly golden on some sides.
- Add mascarpone and season: Stir in 25 grams of mascarpone to the pan mixture, allowing it to melt and create a creamy sauce. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve with basil: Scatter fresh basil leaves over the gnocchi just before serving to add a fresh, aromatic finish.
Notes
- Deseed the red chilli to reduce heat if preferred.
- Use fresh cherry tomatoes for best flavor, but canned cherry tomatoes can be used as a substitute.
- You can substitute broccoli with other quick-cooking vegetables like spinach or kale if desired.
- For a richer sauce, you may increase the mascarpone slightly to 30g.
- This dish is best enjoyed immediately for the creamiest texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: gnocchi, creamy tomato gnocchi, mascarpone recipe, vegetarian dinner, easy Italian recipe, broccoli and tomato gnocchi
