Pasta is one of my favorite comfort foods. To be honest, I probably eat it a bit too much, but can you blame me? Asparagus is just coming into its spring season so I decided to make a Creamy Asparagus Gnocchi.
This recipe consists of gnocchi in a cream sauce with savory roasted asparagus folded in. It's become a favorite recipe of mine and one that I overindulge in.
You may also enjoy some of my other gnocchi recipes such as my Creamy Gnocchi with Sausage, my Brown Butter Gnocchi or even my Umami Roasted Mushroom Gnocchi.
Jump to:
what is gnocchi?
Gnocchi is a type of Italian pasta that is known for being a soft dough dumpling. These are typically made out of potatoes and flour but some varieties will include ricotta, cheese or cornmeal. The texture of gnocchi is pillowy soft dough with ridges on the exterior so that sauce clings to the pasta. Gnocchi can be served with a variety of sauces including cream, tomato and pesto based sauces.
This recipe calls for potato gnocchi. I used store bought for ease of use, but you can also make them at home for the extra pillowy soft texture that gnocchi is most famously known for.
How to roast asparagus
Roasting asparagus is an easy, hands off method. Begin by preheating the oven to 425 degrees. Prep asparagus by trimming off the ends and slicing in half (or thirds of it is a large stalk). Place on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 5 minutes, toss and roast for an additional 3-4 minutes or until cooked through.
When roasting asparagus, choose stalks that are a medium thickness for the most even cooking. Very think stalks with wither away with roasting and thicker stalks may take more time and cook at a slower rate than other pieces on the pan.
is gnocchi a pasta or a potato?
Ok this is the ongoing debate about gnocchi. Gnocchi is considered a pasta, but in some circles is also considered a potato dumpling. The definitions overlap a bit, but gnocchi can also be made without any potato which solidifies it as a pasta in my book.
Either way, it is delicious and perfect for this Creamy Asparagus Gnocchi recipe. For this recipe you can either make gnocchi from scratch or buy store bough gnocchi.
Ingredients Needed
- 1 Pound Asparagus Trimmed
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- 10 Oz Gnocchi fresh or store bought
- 2 Shallots Minced
- 1 Clove Garlic Minced
- 1 Cup Chicken stock
- 1 ½ Cups Cream
- ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese Grated
- 2 Tbsp Flour
- 2 Tsp Ground Thyme
- Parsley optional
Equipment Needed
- Cutting Board
- Chef's Knife
- Baking Sheet
- Sauté Pan
- Saucepan
Storage Tips
Fridge: This gnocchi dish can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm by either microwaving or heating on the stovetop until warmed through.
Freezer: Gnocchi can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months in an airtight container. To reheat, defrost in the microwave and heat until warmed through.
Raw Asparagus: Store asparagus as you would cut flowers. Trim the bottoms off of the asparagus then place in a glass cup or jar in an inch of water. Cover with a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Creamy Asparagus Gnocchi
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Asparagus Trimmed
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- 10 Oz Gnocchi fresh or store bought
- 2 Shallots Minced
- 1 Clove Garlic Minced
- 1 Cup Chicken stock
- 1 ½ Cups Cream
- ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese Grated
- 2 Tbsp Flour
- 2 Tsp Ground Thyme
- Parsley optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425
- Trim asparagus by cutting off the last ½ inch of the stalk. Slice stalks in half and place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and generously season with salt and pepper. Roast for 5 minutes and toss. Roast for 3-4 minutes more or until asparagus has softened.
- In a large pan, cook shallots and garlic until softened. Add chicken stock, cream, parmesan cheese, thyme and flour. Bring to a simmer and cook until liquid has reduced and thickened.
- In a separate pot, bring water to a boil and cook gnocchi as desired.
- Add gnocchi to the sauce and stir to combine. Mix in asparagus and season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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Beth says
Yummy! This looks so tasty and full of flavor! My family is definitely going to love this recipe! I can't wait to make this!
Shadi says
My family is going to love this, thank you for the recipe!
Kathryn says
This looks amazing, my mouth is watering just by looking at your photos! We are huge gnocchi fans and can't wait to make this. Love the asparagus and cream sauce!
Beth says
This looks so creamy and comforting. I'm craving a bowl right now.
Luke says
This Creamy Asparagus Gnocchi recipe is the first time I've cooked anything like this and it went down a treat with the whole family, they loved it 🙂
Thanks for sharing, amazing!!