EatingWell: Gnocchi made simple
Some like it hot -- but if you don't, sweet Italian turkey sausage is also delicious in this healthy gnocchi recipe. Serve with a mixed green salad with sherry vinaigrette.
Spinach & Sausage Gnocchi
Serves 4
Serving Size: About 1 1/4 cups
Active Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 large onion, sliced
2 links hot Italian turkey sausage (about 6 1/2 ounces), casings removed
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
2 tablespoons water
1 12-ounce bag spinach, stemmed
1 16-ounce package shelf-stable gnocchi
2 ounces thinly sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large broiler-safe skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and very tender, about 10 minutes more.
Increase heat to medium and add sausage, garlic and pepper. Cook, breaking up the sausage with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Add water and cook, stirring up any browned bits, until the water has evaporated, about 1 minute. Add spinach a handful at a time and cook, stirring, until wilted, 3 to 4 minutes.
Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler to high.
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add gnocchi and cook, stirring often, until plumped and starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir the gnocchi into the spinach mixture. Top with mozzarella. Broil until the cheese starts to brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
Recipe nutrition: Per serving: 418 calories; 15 g fat (4 g sat, 8 g mono); 46 mg cholesterol; 52 g carbohydrate; 0 g added sugars; 2 g total sugars; 21 g protein; 3 g fiber; 792 mg sodium; 671 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (162 percent daily value), Vitamin C (47 percent dv), Folate (44 percent dv), Magnesium (21 percent dv), Potassium (19 percent dv), Calcium (18 percent dv), Iron (17 percent dv), Zinc & B-12 (16 percent dv)
3 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving(s)
Exchanges: 3 starch, 1 1/2 vegetable, 1 lean meat, 1/2 MF meat, 1 1/2 fat
(EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com.)