How to Host a Rainbow Gnocchi Party

Everyone loves gnocchi. And if you don’t, you haven’t had the right flavor. Yes, that’s right. Gnocchi has flavors including tomato, beet, pumpkin, spinach, and the good ol’ fashioned potato. 

With a myriad of colors and flavors, friends and family are sure to find a type of gnocchi they love. Consider throwing a Rainbow Gnocchi Party to open friends and family to something new. 

I did just that. With Spoon Penn State members, coming far and wide to my apartment, a feast of large proportion was served. But how do you pull it off, you may ask?

Well, it first begins with the recipes.*

SpoonTip: Remember to cook the gnocchi in salted water.  It seasons the gnocchi as well as lowering the boiling point of the water.

Potato Gnocchi

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 5 minutesTotal time: 15 minutesServings:4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups white flour + extra for dough
• 1.5 cups mashed potato or potato pureé

Instructions

1. 
   Mix the flour and the potato pureé in a bowl until a dough forms. Add more flour, if needed, and be careful not to knead the dough too much. These should be clouds of pasta. But don’t make them too soft either (or else, you’ll be eating mashed potatoes).
2. 
   Roll the dough into a rope and cut into bite-size pieces.
3. 
   Throw bite sized pieces into the boiling salted water to cook. After 15 seconds, scrape the gnocchi off of the bottom of the pot (it might stick).
4. 
   Once the gnocchi floats to the top, it is cooked! Using a strainer, transfer the gnocchi into a pan of hot oil and garlic. Sauteé and transfer 1-2 tablespoons of the gnocchi starchy water into the hot oil and gnocchi mix to form a garlic-oil sauce. Once the starchy water has reduced and the sauce is formed, serve it up!

Pumpkin (or Sweet Potato) Gnocchi

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 5 minutesTotal time: 15 minutesServings:4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups white flour + extra for dough
• 1.5 cups pumpkin pureé or 1.5 cups mashed sweet potato

Instructions

1. 
   Mix the flour and the pumpkin pureé in a bowl until a dough forms. Add more flour, if needed, and be careful not to knead the dough too much. These should be clouds of pasta.
2. 
   Roll the dough into a rope and cut into bite-size pieces.
3. 
   Throw bite sized pieces into the boiling salted water to cook. After 15 seconds, scrape the gnocchi off of the bottom of the pot (it might stick).
4. 
   Once the gnocchi floats to the top, it is cooked. Using a strainer, transfer the gnocchi into a pan of hot oil and garlic. Sauteé and transfer 1-2 tablespoons of the gnocchi starchy water into the hot oil and gnocchi mix to form a garlic-oil sauce. Once the starchy water has reduced and the sauce is formed, serve it up!

Beet Gnocchi

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 25 minutesCook time: 20 minutesTotal time: 45 minutesServings:4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cups white flour + extra for dough
• 2 beets diced
• 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

1. 
   Mix the flour and the beet pureé (blend beets and water together until puréed) in a bowl until a dough forms. Add more flour, if needed, and be careful not to knead the dough too much. These should be clouds of pasta.
2. 
   Roll the dough into a rope and cut into bite-size pieces.
3. 
   Throw bite sized pieces into the boiling salted water to cook. After 15 seconds, scrape the gnocchi off of the bottom of the pot (it might stick).
4. 
   Once the gnocchi floats to the top, it is cooked. Using a strainer, transfer the gnocchi into a pan of hot oil and garlic. Sauteé and transfer 1-2 tablespoons of the gnocchi starchy water into the hot oil and gnocchi mix to form a garlic-oil sauce. Once the starchy water has reduced and the sauce is formed, serve it up!

Tomato Gnocchi

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 5 minutesTotal time: 15 minutesServings:4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups white flour + extra for dough
• 3/4 cup tomato pureé
• 1/4 cup water

Instructions

1. 
   Mix the tomato pureé and water, and then transfer mixture to a bowl with flour until a dough forms. Add more flour, if needed, and be careful not to knead the dough too much. These should be clouds of pasta.
2. 
   Roll the dough into a rope and cut into bite-size pieces.
3. 
   Throw bite sized pieces into the boiling salted water to cook. After 15 seconds, scrape the gnocchi off of the bottom of the pot (it might stick).
4. 
   Once the gnocchi floats to the top, it is cooked. Using a strainer, transfer the gnocchi into a pan of hot oil and garlic. Sauteé and transfer 1-2 tablespoons of the gnocchi starchy water into the hot oil and gnocchi mix to form a garlic-oil sauce. Once the starchy water has reduced and the sauce is formed, serve it up!

Spinach Gnocchi

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 5 minutesTotal time: 15 minutesServings:4 servings

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups flour + extra for dough
• 1/2 cup spinach pureéd with 1-2 tablespoons water

Instructions

1. 
   Mix the flour and the spinach pureé in a bowl until a dough forms. Add more flour, if needed, and be careful not to knead the dough too much. These should be clouds of pasta.
2. 
   Roll the dough into a rope and cut into bite-size pieces.
3. 
   Throw bite sized pieces into the boiling salted water to cook. After 15 seconds, scrape the gnocchi off of the bottom of the pot (it might stick).
4. 
   Once the gnocchi floats to the top, it is cooked. Using a strainer, transfer the gnocchi into a pan of hot oil and garlic. Sauteé and transfer 1-2 tablespoons of the gnocchi starchy water into the hot oil and gnocchi mix to form a garlic-oil sauce. Once the starchy water has reduced and the sauce is formed, serve it up!

Now, for the sauces:

Classic Tomato-Basil Sauce

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 5 minutesCook time: 5 minutesTotal time: 10 minutesServings:3 servings

Ingredients

• 1.5 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 tablespoons pasta water
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 clove garlic diced
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1 cup boiled gnocchi

Instructions

1. 
   Toast the garlic and pepper in the oil. Toss the boiled gnocchi in and toss the mixture. Then, insert tomato paste and pasta water.
2. 
   Mix to create the tomato sauce. Throw in the basil and wait for mixture to reduce into a sauce. Then, serve it up!

Mushroom Cream Sauce

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 5 minutesCook time: 15 minutesTotal time: 20 minutesServings:3 servings

Ingredients

• 1.5 cup chopped mushrooms
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary
• 3/4 cup cooked gnocchi
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 2 tablespoons coconut yogurt
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 4 tablespoons pasta water

Instructions

1. 
   Sauteé garlic and herbs in oil, and then throw in the mushrooms.
2. 
   Once the mushrooms are cooked, throw in the cooked gnocchi and sauteé. After about 10 seconds, mix the gnocchi and throw in the coconut yogurt, pasta water, and maple syrup.
3. 
   Once the mixture has reduced into a sauce, serve it up!

Enjoy life, enjoy the people you’re with, and enjoy the food you make. Make gnocchi, and have fun with it! Have a party with a rainbow of colors and an assortment of sauces. Whether it’s a Spoon event, a party of friends, or a dinner in, these recipes are perfect for anytime.

And if you have gnocchi leftover (which I’m sure you won’t) make sure you freeze it for next week’s party.

• Dinner
• Vegetarian