‘Marry Me’ Gnocchi with Camembert and Sage Recipe
‘Marry me’ gnocchi is a comforting and indulgent Italian-inspired dish featuring pillowy gnocchi tossed in a creamy sundried tomato sauce, topped with melted camembert and crispy sage leaves. This recipe combines rich, savory flavors with a hint of spice and fresh herbs, making it perfect for a romantic dinner or special occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop and Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce and Base
- 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 2 shallots, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- Pinch of chilli flakes
- 3–4 thyme sprigs, leaves picked
- 2 tbsp sundried tomato purée
- 150ml cream or 100g mascarpone
- 25g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, grated
Main
- 500g gnocchi
- 1 camembert (about 250g; ensure vegetarian if needed)
- 6 sage leaves
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in an ovenproof skillet or frying pan over low-medium heat. Add the finely chopped shallots and cook gently for 5-8 minutes until softened but not browned, forming the flavorful base for the sauce.
- Add aromatics and sauce components: Stir in the crushed garlic cloves, pinch of chilli flakes, and thyme leaves; cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Then add the sundried tomato purée, cream or mascarpone, and half of the grated parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste and gently heat the sauce while stirring.
- Cook the gnocchi: In a separate pan, bring water to a boil and cook the gnocchi according to the package instructions, usually until they float to the surface. Drain them, reserving a mugful of the cooking water to adjust the sauce consistency later if necessary.
- Combine gnocchi and sauce: Add the cooked gnocchi to the skillet with the sauce, stirring to coat well. If the sauce is too thick, loosen it by adding a splash of the reserved gnocchi cooking water. Keep the pan warm on low heat.
- Prepare for grilling: Preheat the grill to high. Slice the camembert into even pieces and arrange the slices evenly over the saucy gnocchi in the skillet. Take each sage leaf and rub it lightly with olive oil, then place the leaves on top of the camembert slices.
- Grill until golden and bubbling: Place the skillet under the hot grill for 4-5 minutes, watching closely until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling, and the sage leaves are crisp. Remove from the grill and season with freshly ground black pepper.
- Serve: Serve the ‘Marry me’ gnocchi straight from the skillet while warm and gooey, making for a decadent and satisfying meal.
Notes
- You can swap the camembert for a vegetarian-friendly cheese if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of chilli flakes to suit your spice tolerance.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free gnocchi.
- For a lighter version, substitute cream with mascarpone or a lower-fat dairy option.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the melted cheese at its best.
Keywords: gnocchi, creamy gnocchi, camembert gnocchi, sundried tomato sauce, easy Italian dinner, vegetarian pasta, comfort food
