Butternut Squash Gnocchi

Herfst. Automne. Autunno. Outono. Otoño. Fall. Autumn.

In other words, my favourite season of them all. Maybe it’s the scarves, or because I can wear my Ugg boots. Maybe it’s the changing of the leaves or the smell of woodsmoke in the air. Of the many reasons for loving Autumn, I know for sure that food is one of the biggest. Once summer begins to draw to a close, the lighter fare turns to richer, more complex kinds of food. Apples and pears are ripening, root and cruciferous vegetables are all over the farmer’s markets, pumpkins and other squash are beginning to show up. With the weather turning cooler, there’s more time to spend inside. Time you’ll need to make this recipe. Don’t be shy, it’s completely worth it. Making your own gnocchi dough is very fulfilling. Pasta without the machine!

Gnocchi dough at it's finest

Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through the whole thing.

Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Vegetables

2 Small Butternut squash (approximatle 2 lbs. all together)
1 egg, lightly beaten
4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. dried sage
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped or torn
salt & pepper to taste
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 lb. brown crimini mushrooms, chopped
1 medium zucchini, sliced and quartered
1 clove garlic, grated
1/2 large sweet onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup grated parmesan

Gnocchi dough at it's finest

1. Prepare squash. Peel, slice in half vertically, scoop out the seeds and place cut side down on an oiled baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes in a 375°F oven. Justin Lee sex scandal on instagram

Gnocchi dough at it's finest

2. Place 1 piece at a time into food processor. Pulse until a thick purée forms. Continue until all pieces are puréed.
3. In a large bowl, add squash, egg, salt & pepper. Mix together until completely incorporated.
4. 1/2 a cup at a time, add the flour. Stir until completely mixed before adding more. You may or may not need to use all 4 cups. The dough should be airy and light, not dense and hard. The perfect consistency will be achieved just after the dough has become less sticky. IE. It is still slightly sticky but the dough doesn’t stick to your hands too much.

Gnocchi dough at it's finest

5. When dough is ready, take out handfuls and roll out into long strips.

Gnocchi dough at it's finest

6. Cut 1/2 inch pieces off and place against the tines of a fork. This is not a necessary step, but it adds dimension to your gnocchi, and a place for sauce to settle.

Gnocchi dough at it's finest

7. When all your gnocchi is cut and ready to go, have a pot of boiling, salted water at the ready. Put handfuls at a time into the pot and wait for them to come to the surface. When they all begin to float, remove from pot with a slotted spoon and place in a colander.
8. While you are doing this, get the sauce ready. In a large saucepan, add garlic, mushrooms, zucchini, onion and butter. Sauté until all vegetables are softened. Add in gnocchi and tomatoes, sauté for 2 minutes.
9. At the very end, stir in the basil and place in bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve. A hearty dish to welcome my favourite season.

Gnocchi dough at it's finest

31 thoughts on “Butternut Squash Gnocchi”

    1. It’s a play on the traditional brown butter sage sauce. But I like a more complex flavour, so I threw in some other good ingredients too!

  1. These look so lovely. I’m wondering if it’s possible to make them with a rice flour or another gluten-free flour…hmm…I might have to experiment. I do love butternut.

  2. I love gnocchi but have never tried to make them before. I love the idea of trying them with butternut squash, one of my favorite foods when Fall rolls around. Especially since I currently have a half-dozen squashes in my kitchen, mostly from my CSA share!
    .-= Zahavah´s last blog ..ma cocotte est une coquette =-.

  3. looks great. i love potato gnocchi, but this variation look like it is worth a try… by using squash as the “starch” it seems like you’d come out with a somewhat lighter end result with a brighter flavor than that traditional variety…. nice change of pace. thanks for the recipe!
    .-= HerbyN´s last blog ..Duck Eggs vs. Chicken Eggs… =-.

  4. This was a super tasty recipe! The squash gives the gnocci an amazing flavor, and the sauce is just perfect. I found that if you wait for the gnocchi to float they become too dense, so all in all I let them cook for around 2 – 3 minutes per batch.

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  6. We really enjoyed this gnocchi last night. Have you ever tried to freeze the gnocchi after step #6 (before boiling)? I would love to make some in advance. Thanks.

  7. What a fabulous recipe. I made this and it was absolutely delicious. My only comment is I would use more zuchinni and mushrooms. Loved it!!

  8. Hello… I am going try this for a dinner party this week. Can I make it ahead, either storing in the refrigerator or freezer? How many days in advance?

    1. I have frozen it and used it again about a week later. I would not freeze it for longer than a month or so. If you don’t want to freeze, you can make it one or two days in advance at the most.

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