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Crispy Gnocchi with Sausage & Kale

Crispy gnocchi with sausage and kale is a super easy one pot meal. If you’re wanting a simple, budget friendly dinner with just a few ingredients, then this recipe is for you! Pillowy gnocchi with a nice crisp outside, with juicy pork sausages, and superfood kale… a healthy and delicious must try.

If you haven’t tried crispy gnocchi, you’re in for a game-changing treat! With the initial crunch of the outer layer, then to the soft and chewy inside. So good… In the past I have made gnocchi like this by seasoning it and roasting them in the oven, which is a great side dish. However, I wanted a minimal effort one pan meal that also incorporates these crispy pillowy delights.

Key Ingredients

Kale is the superfood in this dish. I love adding kale into cooking, it doesn’t have a strong taste but it absorbs the flavours of the dish perfectly. As a plus, it’s super healthy and adds a nice vibrant green to this dish.
Garlic is the aromatic of the crispy gnocchi with sausage and sage recipe. It brings a depth to the flavour, a nice umami and savoury note.
Pork sausages bring the protein to this recipe. They are browned in the pan first, also giving this a slightly crisp outside. Pork sausages are juicy and delicious, complimenting the italian herbs and garlic flavours. If you’d like you could substitute these for chicken sausages too.
Gnocchi is the star of the show! Like I said before, if you have not tried crispy gnocchi then you are in for a treat. Gnocchi can be an acquired pasta to enjoy, my partner for example is not a huge fan of it due to the soft and sometimes stodgy texture. So even if you’re not a huge gnocchi fan, I highly suggest giving this recipe a shot!
Parmesan brings a slight nuttiness to the dish. If you’ve had a look through any other recipe on A Home Cook’s Diary you’ll see I am a parmesan girly at heart. It is my favourite cheese to add to almost anything. It compliments this crispy gnocchi with sausage and kale so well, it adds a little something-something without making cheese the key flavour.
Italian herbs are the only seasoning used, apart from a dash of salt. This is a simple meal, with simple ingredients, but with delicious flavour. Italian herbs are the perfect addition to the pork sausages, garlic, and gnocchi.
Butter prevents the dish from feeling dry. There aren’t many dishes I make that do not have a sauce, and with crispy gnocchi it has the potential to taste a bit dry. By simply melting a little knob into the pan, it gives the dish a nice smooth buttery texture. As well as elevating the other elements of the dish.

How to make this crispy gnocchi with sausage and kale

Brown the sausages.

Bring a pan to a medium-high heat, and pour in some olive oil. Place the sausages in the pan. Cook for a few minutes on each side, until they are nice and browned. They do not have to be fully cooked through. Remove the sausages from the pan.

Crisp the gnocchi and add the garlic.

Pour in another glug of olive oil. Add the gnocchi to the pan, toss to coat in the oil. Fry the gnocchi until they are golden brown on the outside, with a nice crispy texture. Crush the garlic into the pan with the gnocchi.

Prep other ingredients.

While the gnocchi is frying, wash and chop the kale into smaller pieces. Also cut the sausages into bite sized rounds.

Assemble the crispy gnocchi with sausage and kale.

Place the sausages and kale back into the pan with the gnocchi. Add a knob of butter to the pan, melt and coat everything. Season with italian herbs and salt. Sprinkle parmesan over the crispy gnocchi with sausage and kale. Then enjoy!

Storing the crispy gnocchi with sausage and kale

If you have any leftovers, this dish is perfect for lunch the next day. Keep the crispy gnocchi with sausage and kale in an airtight container, and store it in the fridge. It should keep for up to 3 days. One thing to note, the longer it is left the more likely the gnocchi is to lose its crisp.

Variations for the crispy gnocchi with sausage and kale

This meal is definitely adaptable to suit your needs! If you’re gluten free then it’s easy enough to switch out to gluten free gnocchi, I’ve used it myself a few times. If you can’t eat pork, try some chicken sausages. Dairy free? Try using an oil based ‘butter’. Kale could be changed to spinach. Granted these adaptations completely change this recipe, but you can still follow my method.

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Alrighty, ready to make this simple and healthy meal? Grab your ingredients and let’s get to cooking this crispy gnocchi with sausage and kale! It’s the perfect, easy, one pan recipe for your next dinner.