This rich and flavorful dish combines soft potato gnocchi with savory Italian sausage, creamy pumpkin sauce, and vibrant spinach, perfectly seasoned with fresh sage and thyme.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
12 oz Italian sausage links, casings removed (about 3 sausage links)
10 oz potato gnocchi
1 cup heavy cream
⅓ cup chicken broth
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 oz fresh spinach
2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions:
1. Cook the Sausage:
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the Italian sausage, breaking it into small pieces with a spoon, and cook until browned and fully cooked, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
2. Cook the Gnocchi:
In the same skillet (do not clean it for added flavor), add the potato gnocchi and toast for 2-3 minutes until lightly golden. Remove and set aside with the sausage.
3. Make the Creamy Pumpkin Sauce:
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the skillet.
Stir in the pumpkin puree and heavy cream, whisking until smooth.
Add the fresh sage, thyme, salt, and pepper, and let the sauce simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.
4. Combine and Cook:
Return the cooked sausage and gnocchi to the skillet, tossing to coat them evenly in the sauce.
Add the fresh spinach and stir until it wilts, about 2-3 minutes.
5. Adjust Seasoning:
Taste the dish and adjust with additional salt and pepper as needed.