1/2cupheavy cream, dairy-free or dairyful we love Country Crock Plant Cream
1tbspbalsamic vinegar
1tsporegano, dried
3ozspinach, fresh, chopped
3tbspbasil, fresh, chiffonade
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
1/4cupPecorino Romano cheese, or 1 tb nutritional yeast if dairy-free
The Process
Mise en Place
Prepare the sausage. If you bought bulk, do nothing. If you bought link, then remove from the casing and add to a prep bowl.
Dice onion, mince garlic and place in a prep bowl. Chop the spinach and add to a prep bowl.
Measure the dried oregano and balsamic and add to prep bowls. Measure out the heavy cream. Grate the cheese (or measure out the nutritional yeast) and set aside for garnish.
Cook the Gnocchi
Cook the gnocchi as directed on the package: bring to a boil 4 quarts of salted water. Once boiling, add the gnocchi and still gently to break apart. Once they rise to the top of the pan, remove using a spider strainer and transfer to a bowl. Add a bit of olive olive and mix the gnocchi to keep them from sticking. Set aside until they are needed in the skillet.
Make the Skillet
While the gnocchi water is coming to a boil, add a small amount of olive oil ot the skillet and set the heat to medium-high. Once the skillet and oil are hot, add the sausage and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the sausage is mostly browned, breaking it up into smaller pieces as it cooks. The sausage can be slightly pink in the middle as it will cook more as you make the sauce.
Add the tomato sauce to the skillet and stir to combine. Add the oregano, balsamic, and heavy cream and stir to combine. Let cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the spinach in bunches into the skillet slowly and stir to combine. Let cook 2-3 minutes more and then add half of the basil and stir. Taste and kosher salt and pepper as needed.
Adding the Gnocchi and Garnish
Slowly and gently add the cooked gnocchi to the skillet and stir to combine. Let cook for 2-3 minutes. If you are using nutritional yeast instead of cheese, add it now and stir to combine. Taste and add more kosher salt and pepper as needed. Remember, if you will be garnishing with cheese, it will bring in more salt to the dish.
Remove the skillet from the heat, garnish with cheese (if using) and basil. Serve directly from the pan or scoop into dishes. Enjoy!