Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Italian Sausage and Spinach Cream Sauce

Overhead view of sweet potato gnocchi in a bowl.

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Italian Sausage and Spinach Cream Sauce

Get ready to treat your taste buds with one of the most delicious and cozy dishes you could imagine with this Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Italian Sausage and Spinach Cream Sauce Recipe! This comforting dish combines the sweetness of sweet potatoes, the heartiness of Italian sausage, and the vibrant freshness of spinach for a meal that is creamy and delicious!

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Prep Time: 1

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 1 30

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 1342kcal

Author: Andee

Equipment

Ingredients

For The Sweet Potato Gnocchi

1 ½ lbs sweet potato about 2 sweet potatoes
2 c all-purpose flour plus additional for flouring your surface
½ teaspoon salt

For the Cream Sauce

1 lb mild Italian sausage ground
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 yellow onion finely chopped
4 cloves garlic minced
½ c chicken broth reduced sodium
2 c heavy cream
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
3 oz baby spinach washed
1 c shredded parmesan plus more for garnish
pepper to taste

Instructions

For The Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Wash the sweet potato and then prick holes in the potatoes using a fork. Place on a microwave safe plate and microwave for 7-12 minutes, rotating the potatoes halfway through. Remove from the microwave when the potatoes are soft. Allow to cool a bit so you can handle them with your bare hands.
1 ½ lbs sweet potato
Once the potatoes have cooled enough to touch, slice them in half and scoop out the insides. Place the insides in a medium sized mixing bowl.
Add the all-purpose flour and the salt to the bowl and begin mixing. I recommend doing this with your hands but you can also use a spatula. Once the dough comes together, transfer it to a lightly floured surface and knead for a minute. Add more flour if needed. You are looking for a soft dough that is just slightly moist.
2 c all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt
Cut the dough into eighths and then roll each piece into a long log-like shape. Cut into ½ inch to 1 inch long pieces depending on how large you'd like your gnocchi to be.
If you would like the traditional gnocchi look, either shape the gnocchi using a gnocchi board or the back of a fork by rolling the gnocchi pieces down the ridges. This is optional and I often times skip this step.
Fill a stock pot with water and place it on your stove to bring it to a boil. Generously salt. While the water is heating, start on the cream sauce.

For the Cream Sauce

In a large skillet, brown the ground Italian sausage over medium-high heat. While the Italian sausage is cooking, start chopping your onion and mincing your garlic if you haven't yet. Once the sausage is browned, remove it with a slotted spoon and place on a plate. Set aside for later.
1 lb mild Italian sausage
Add the butter to the same skillet and allow it to melt completely. Once the butter has melted, add the onion and garlic. Cook until the onions are translucent and cooked through, stirring the whole time.
2 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 yellow onion, 4 cloves garlic
Add the chicken broth and give everything a quick stir. Add the heavy cream, red pepper flakes, salt, and rosemary. Continue stirring until the mixture just starts to boil. Reduce the heat to low.
½ c chicken broth, 2 c heavy cream, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
Add back in the ground sausage and give it a good stir. Add the spinach and stir to wilt it. You're water should be boiling by now so it's time to cook the gnocchi. However, make sure that you continue to stir the cream sauce every so often while you're cooking the gnocchi so that the cream doesn't burn!
3 oz baby spinach
To cook the gnocchi, drop the pieces into your pot. Stir to make sure that they didn't stick to the bottom. Once the gnocchi floats, they are done. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the skillet with the cream sauce. Note that you may have to cook the gnocchi in batches. I did mine in 3 batches.
Once all of the gnocchi has been added to the cream sauce, give it a good stir before adding your parmesan. Stir until the cheese has completely melted into the mixture. Season with pepper to taste. You can optionally garnish it with some more parmesan cheese and parsley.
1 c shredded parmesan, pepper

Notes

Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

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