Description
Elegant potato gnocchi tossed in a creamy garlic pesto sauce with a hint of lemon, finished with toasted nuts and fresh basil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) potato gnocchi, store-bought or homemade
- Salt for pasta water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4–5 cloves garlic, roasted or finely minced
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (120 g) quality basil pesto
- 1/2 cup (50 g) freshly grated Parmesan
- Zest of 1/2 lemon
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts or chopped walnuts
- Fresh basil leaves, finely shredded
- Extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling
- Optional: flaky sea salt for finish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add gnocchi and cook until they float plus 30–45 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon into a bowl and reserve 1 cup of the starchy cooking water.
- In a wide skillet, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add roasted or minced garlic and gently sauté until fragrant and pale gold—about 30–45 seconds.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it reduce slightly for about 3–4 minutes until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Stir in the pesto, grated Parmesan, and lemon zest. Whisk to combine until the sauce is smooth.
- Add the cooked gnocchi to the skillet and gently toss to coat, finishing with the room-temperature butter to enrich the sauce. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Plate immediately, sprinkle with toasted pine nuts, shredded basil, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, and a few shavings of Parmesan.
Notes
Use room temperature butter for emulsification. Toast nuts briefly and watch closely to avoid burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling and Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg