Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage & Browned Butter

When I first laid eyes on this recipe over at Little Bit Crunchy, Little Bit Rock & Roll, I bookmarked it right away. I was practically drooling on my keyboard at that point. Once I started meal planning, I actually planned to make this dish one week and, consequently, bought all the necessary ingredients from the store. Imagine that–actually having all the ingredients in the house at the same time to try a new recipe! It’s happened to me maybe four times. Ever.

At any rate, this is one of those ‘special occasion’ meals that would be perfect for, I don’t know, maybe Valentine’s Day? If you’re like me, you will be cooking at home and renting a romantic comedy instead of spending exorbitant amounts of money and fighting crowds at a restaurant. (Although I do have to say the special menu at The Silly Goose – my most favorite restaurant ever – sounds delectable. Talk about drooling on the keyboard.)

Gnocchi is a traditional Italian dish made from potatoes. I love the flavorful, nutrient-rich alternative of using sweet potatoes. Very yummy. And butter. Oh, the butter. It isn’t the butter that makes this dish a ‘special occasion’ meal. No, butter is chock full of necessary and very healthy fats, vitamins, & minerals. It will NOT clog your arteries and it will NOT make you gain weight. Eat it liberally to balance your hormones, train your body to actually become a fat-burner, and boost your mood. It’s good stuff.

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage & Browned Butter

Ingredients:

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 450 F. Poke holes in your sweet potatoes with a fork, place on a baking tray and roast for 40 minutes. When they are cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh, place it in a bowl, and mash until smooth.

Add to the bowl 1 egg, 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese, and about 1 1/2 c. flour. Mix together, then knead until a dough forms. Add more flour as needed until your mixture is no longer sticky.

Divide your dough into four parts and roll out each until they are long and skinny. With a knife, slice off 1-inch pieces. You can gently press each piece with the tines of fork for a traditional gnocchi decoration.

Now bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Working in batches, drop in the gnocchi pieces with a slotted spoon and boil until they float to the top. Remove from the water and set aside on a pan or plate.

Next melt the butter in a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet. Continue cooking the butter over a medium-low heat until it begins to brown. Add the gnocchi and fresh sage and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Toss gently to evenly coat the gnocchi in the pan. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.