Creamy Sausage Gnocchi

Ingredients

• 1 Package Gnocchi (12-16oz)

• 2 TBSP Tomato Paste

• 2 TBSP Blended Cottage Cheese (or cream cheese)

• 2 roma tomatoes

• 1 Lemon zested and juiced

• 8oz Italian Sausage (or protein of choice)

• 1 clove of garlic minced

• Fresh Basil for garnish (optional)

• Fresh Grated Parmesan to taste

• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes for Garnish (optional)

Serves 2

Preparation

1. Prep Station: Boil a pot of water as well as heat a large pan on medium heat.

2. Salt the water and cook gnocchi according to package. Reserve up to 1 cup of the water. You'll use this later for the sauce. 

3. Cook Sausage:  Brown the italian sausage and break into pieces once it starts to turn golden brown.

4. Make Sauce: Once the sausage is cooked, to the pan, add in the tomato paste and minced garlic. Once fragrant and the tomato paste turns a brick red color, add in your tomatoes. Let tomatoes soften before adding the cottage cheese. Stir the cottage cheese and once incorporated, slowly pour in the pasta water mixing while doing so. Add it a little bit at a time until it is a consistency you're happy with. Once it's at the proper consistency, add in lemon juice to taste and any parmesan cheese. Taste as you go and if it needs salt/pepper, add in to your liking.

5. Add the gnocchi to the sause mixture and allow to mix together.

6. Assemble and Garnish: Add the gnocchi and sausage to a tall sided plate or bowl. Top with lemon zest, parmesan cheese, basil ribbons, and any red pepper flakes if desired.

Tips and Best Practices

• So many items in this dish can be substituted to your preferences:

  • Cream Cheese for cottage cheese

  • Vegan sausage for regular or even chicken sausage. Go with what you prefer or what your diet can tolerate!

  • You can even add some canned tomatoes if you do not have fresh.

  • Same with the herbs, if you do not have fresh herbs, dried herbs are just fine.