Description
This creamy butternut squash gnocchi with sausage is a rich and comforting dish combining tender gnocchi with a velvety sauce made from roasted butternut squash puree, Italian sausage, and fragrant herbs. Perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner, it offers a blend of savory and slightly sweet flavors complemented by Parmesan cheese and fresh sage.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce and Sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage (casings removed if using links)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups butternut squash puree (fresh or canned)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage (or 1/4 teaspoon dried)
Gnocchi
- 1 lb potato gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley or additional Parmesan, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat to prepare for cooking the sausage.
- Cook the sausage: Add the Italian sausage to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. This usually takes about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain any excess grease if necessary to avoid a greasy dish.
- Sauté the garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook it for about 1 minute or until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add sauce ingredients: Pour in the butternut squash puree, chicken broth, heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, ground nutmeg, and chopped fresh sage. Stir everything thoroughly until well combined to form the sauce.
- Simmer the sauce: Let the sauce simmer gently over medium-low heat for 5 to 7 minutes to allow it to thicken slightly and the flavors to meld.
- Cook the gnocchi: While the sauce simmers, cook the potato gnocchi in a pot of salted boiling water following the package instructions, usually until they float to the surface, about 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the gnocchi and set aside.
- Combine gnocchi and sauce: Add the cooked gnocchi to the skillet with the sauce and sausage. Simmer everything together for another 2 to 3 minutes to combine the flavors and heat through.
- Garnish and serve: Serve the creamy butternut squash gnocchi hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley or extra grated Parmesan cheese according to your taste preferences.
Notes
- You can use fresh butternut squash puree by roasting peeled and cubed squash until tender and then blending it until smooth.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper at the end to suit your taste.
- For a spicier dish, use spicy Italian sausage instead of mild.
- Homemade gnocchi can be used for a fresher taste and texture.
- To make this dish vegetarian, substitute sausage with sautéed mushrooms or a plant-based protein and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
