| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 20 mins | Difficulty: Intermediate | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 500 | 35g | 20g | 30g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 7g | 2g | 15g | 0.8g |
Why I Love French Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Gnocchi
There’s something unmistakably heartwarming and nourishing about the Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Gnocchi, a French recipe which I hold particularly close to my culinary heart. It’s a rustic and hearty dish that echoes the farm-to-table freshness and comfort-first approach I am so passionate about.
A Stew-Like Comfort with a French Twist
In the spirit of my Midwestern roots, I tend to lean towards hearty, homely meals – think corn casseroles, beef stews, and the like. The Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Gnocchi, however, deviates into a more continental cuisine, while still embodying the robust heartiness synonymous with home-cooked meals. Combining leafy spinach, earthy mushrooms, and soft, pillowy gnocchi drenched in a velvety sauce with a hint of white wine, it’s a beautiful merging of my personal culinary loves.
Inspired by renowned French chef Julia Child, who believed in the power of keeping food simple and pleasurable, this dish brings together modest ingredients with an elegant French twist which I can’t get enough of.
Heartland Cooking Reimagined
No matter how far I venture into world cuisines, the core principle of my cooking — farm-to-table freshness — remains constant. This gnocchi dish perfectly captures that ethos. The fresh spinach brings a taste of the earth, the mushrooms offer a depth of flavor, and the gnocchi, when cooked right, rests in the creamy sauce like precious pearls.
And, there is nothing like the warmth of a creamy, bubbling stew waiting for you at the dinner table at the end of the day. Best served with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, this dish perfectly embodies my Midwestern comfort cooking, rich in taste and heart.
It’s recipes like the Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Gnocchi that remind me of why I fell in love with food; it’s about the power of transforming humble ingredients into something that can bring such immense joy to people. This is a recipe that respects the ingredients, celebrates flavor, and creates a heartwarming dish suitable for any season or occasion. In essence, it’s everything I believe good, satisfying food should be.
I encourage you to enjoy this dish with your family and friends – after all, the best meals are the ones shared with the ones we love. Julia Child couldn’t have said it better.
What You’ll Need
- 2 packages of gnocchi (16 oz each)
- 3 cups of fresh spinach
- 2 cups of sliced mushrooms
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 cups of heavy cream
- 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup of white wine
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Method
Step One
First, prepare all the ingredients listed above. Mince the garlic, finely chop the onion, slice the mushrooms, grate the parmesan cheese, and measure out the spinach, gnocchi, heavy cream, and olive oil.
Step Two
In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped onion, and sauté for approximately 4-5 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
Step Three
Add the sliced mushrooms to the same pan and sauté for another 5 minutes or until they become soft and browned. Season with salt and black pepper.
Step Four
In the meantime, cook the gnocchi in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain them and set aside.
Step Five
Add the white wine to the pan with the mushrooms, garlic and onions. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes to let the alcohol evaporate.
Step Six
Add the heavy cream to the pan, stirring well to combine with the mushroom mixture. Once the cream starts to bubble slightly, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.
Step Seven
Add the fresh spinach and allow it to wilt in the hot sauce. Stir in the gnocchi, making sure to coat them well with the cream sauce.
Step Eight
Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese on top of the gnocchi and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce has thickened. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and black pepper if needed.
Step Nine
Serve the Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Gnocchi hot, with additional grated Parmesan cheese on top if desired. Enjoy!
