Full disclosure; I’ve been too much of a chicken to attempt making gnocchi for a while now, but this was definitely one of my favorite meals so far and I’m glad I did! This is not one of my easier recipes but don’t let that scare you away. It was well worth the hard work. If you are looking for something more effortless, you can buy the pre-made gnocchi or ravioli at the store (butternut squash ravioli would be great) and just make this sauce to go with it! The sauce itself was delicious.
By this point, I had flour and dough everywhere…in my hair, in my fingernails, on my clothes, on my phone, and in my ears. What a mess!
) I even made a run to the grocery store to pick up a forgotten item for the sauce and neglected to look in the mirror prior to leaving. When I got home later I realized I had flour and gnocchi dough all over me and caked on to my clothes. Keepin’ it classy over here!
Make sure if you aren’t putting the gnocchi straight into the water that you don’t stack the gnocchi on top of each other because they will all stick and mesh together! I may have learned that the hard way…
INGREDIENTS:
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
2 medium to large sweet potatoes, peeled
1 1/2 – 2 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg, slightly beaten
Pinch of salt
*I doubled the recipe, except for the sage*
2/3 cup heavy cream
PREPARATION:
Gnocchi:
Boil a large pot of salted water. Meanwhile, peel and cut sweet potatoes into 2 inch cubes. Boil sweet potato cubes until tender (around 20 minutes) and remove from water into a bowl lined with a paper towel to drain. Allow potatoes to rest for a few minutes before transferring into a large bowl. Mash potatoes with a large fork or potato masher until smooth, then move to the refrigerator for around 30 minutes to cool.
Once sweet potato mash has cooled, remove from fridge and mix in egg. Add flour, a quarter cup at a time, until a very soft but manageable dough forms (2 cups was about right for my 2 large sweet potatoes).
Pull out about a handful of dough at a time. On a well-floured surface roll dough into a long snake, maybe a 1/2 inch thick, and chop dough into half inch sections. Roll each gnocchi over the tines of a fork to create classic ridges (or if you’re lazy, simply press the fork tines into the top of the gnocchi, or leave this step out altogether like I did). Make sure you do not stack gnocchi on top of each other as they will stick together! Here’s a good time to make your sauce (recipe below).
Bring a large pot of water to a simmer, NOT a boil, and drop in a handful of gnocchi. Scoop out with a slotted spoon when they float and drop into prepared sauce.
Sage Cream Sauce:
Meanwhile, melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add pecans and stir until slightly darker and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
Using slotted spoon, transfer pecans to small bowl.
Add shallots and sage to same skillet.
Sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add wine and cream. Increase heat and boil until sauce is somewhat reduced, about 10 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add in gnocchi and top with pecans.
Leftover dough:
Form any remaining dough into gnocchi shape, then place on a pan in the freezer. Once gnocchi are frozen remove from pan and store in a plastic freezer bag. When ready to bake later just pull out of the freezer and drop straight into simmering water.















This looks like the best meal in the whole wide world. Sage cream sauce?! YUM!! I will be making this soon! Very very soon!
This is seriously the best!! Thanks for commenting!
Ashley,
This looks heavenly. I’m going to make this for sure this week. Maybe even tonight if I get to the store
Thanks for sharing,
Michelle
Thanks, Michelle! I have been wanting to make these again – it’s really one of my favorite meals!
I can’t wait to give this one a try! I am a huge fan of anything sweet potato and this sounds perfect for fall!
Christina, if I had to pick a fave recipe I’ve made it would be this one for sure! It’s a bit of work making the gnocchi but SO worth it
I’ve been debating making gnocchi for so long but you made it look easy! Maybe it’s time to give it a try.
x
Thanks for commenting! It definitely wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be – and totally worth it!