Potato Gnocchi

Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce

Amy Hand

Amy Hand

Amy worked as the head pastry chef at multiple restaurants in South Africa. She now shares her professional insights about cooking and kitchen tools here at The Skillful Cook.

Potato gnocchi and sage butter sauce is a classic Italian dish that is warm and comforting. There’s nothing better than homemade pasta!
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A bowl of warm potato gnocchi is the ultimate comfort food for a cold winter’s day!

Gnocchi is a unique pasta shape that uses potato as a base to achieve a soft, pillowy texture that melts in the mouth.

warm potato gnocchi is the ultimate comfort food

The sage butter sauce is a herbaceous and savory accompaniment that coats each gnocchi in buttery goodness that makes this dish irresistible.

If you’re looking to learn a new skill and test your cooking skills then this is the ideal dish to try.

It’s not overly complicated and is completely achievable with a little practice to perfect it.

The sage butter sauce is herbaceous and savory

Why you will love this Potato Gnocchi recipe…

  • Learn a new skill- Making pasta by hand is a great way to increase your culinary knowledge.
  • Impress your guests- This is an easy dish to make large portions of and will make you look very skilled in front of your guests.
  • Italian classic- If you love Italian food, this recipe needs to be in your cookery toolkit.
  • Simple ingredients- The gnocchi uses just three ingredients and a little seasoning.
  • Comfort food- A bowl of gnocchi is warming and makes you feel cozier with every bite.
  • Learn a new skill- Making pasta by hand is a great way to increase your culinary knowledge.
Why you will love this Potato Gnocchi recipe
Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce recipe

Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce

Potato gnocchi and sage butter sauce is a classic Italian dish that is warm and comforting. There’s nothing better than homemade pasta!
Rate this recipe!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 1 Serving

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the Gnocchi:

  • 1 ½ pounds starchy potatoes
  • Salt and Pepper
  • ½ to ¾ cup all-purpose flour plus more as needed
  • 1 large egg (optional)

For the Sage & Butter Sauce:

  • 4 tbsp butter
  • Handful of fresh sage leaves
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese

Instructions
 

Ingredients

  • Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce Ingredients
  • Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and bake potatoes until tender, about an hour. You can also boil the potatoes with their skins on. When potatoes are cooked split them open to allow the steam to escape. When potatoes are cool enough to handle, scoop out their flesh.
    Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce Instruction - Bake the potatoes
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Pass the potatoes through a ricer or food mill. I used a medium setting on mine. If you do not have a ricer or mill you can use a masher, but try not to work the potatoes too much as this will cause the gnocchi to be tougher.
    Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce Instruction - Rice the potatoes
  • On a well-floured board place the potatoes and form a well in the potatoes. Put ¼ cup flour and the egg in the potatoes. Gently knead the potato, adding the additional flour if needed, just until the dough comes together. Pinch off a small piece of the dough and try cooking it in the boiling water to see if it holds together. If it does not add a little more flour and try again.
    Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce Instruction - Make the gnocchi dough
  • Roll some of the dough into a ½ inch thick rope, then cut the rope into ½ inch pieces. Score each piece with a fork or gnocchi board. You can also just push your finger into it to form a little bowl. This is just to help the gnocchi hold onto the sauce a little better. Put the pieces onto a parchment-lined baking sheet until ready to cook.
    Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce Instruction - Shape the gnocchi
  • Add the gnocchi to the boiling water in small batches. After they rise to the surface let them cook another 60 seconds and remove them with a slotted spoon.
  • For the sage & butter sauce, place butter and sage into skillet over medium heat. Cook until the butter starts to brown and the sage is sizzling. Toss with gnocchi, salt and pepper, and plenty of Parmesan cheese.
    Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce Instruction - Make the sauce
  • Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce Instruction - Toss the parmesan cheese
  • Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce Instruction - Serve
Keyword Potato Gnocchi
Tried this recipe?Let us know if you liked it in the comments below!

Serving Suggestions

This gnocchi is delicious served alongside a fresh green salad and some garlic butter bread rolls.

🧑‍🍳 Expert Tips

  • Swap the potatoes – Try using sweet potatoes for a similar result but a brighter color and more nutrition value.
  • Don’t overwork the potatoes – This will make the gnocchi rubbery and tough.
  • Try a different sauce – A blue cheese cream sauce is a heavier but tasty alternative to the light butter sauce. You can also try any of your other favorite pasta sauces.
  • Bake potatoes on a bed of coarse salt – This will dry them out and make the flesh more fluffy.
This gnocchi is delicious served alongside a fresh green salad

Storage Suggestions

  • To store- Allow to cool completely and then place in an airtight container. You can choose to store the sauce with the gnocchi or separately. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • To freeze- The gnocchi by themselves freeze very well before they are cooked. Spread the uncooked gnocchi on a floured tray in one even layer and freeze. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Cook in boiling salted water directly from frozen.
  • To reheat- Place the gnocchi and sauce in a pan and heat slowly until the gnocchi are warmed through.

Potato Gnocchi FAQs

Is gnocchi a pasta or potato?

This is a topic that has been debated by many but, in the end, it’s both. Gnocchi is a pasta shape that uses potato as a main ingredient and flour as the secondary ingredient rather than the main one.

How do Italians eat gnocchi?

Italians eat gnocchi tossed in a sauce or in a soup as a form of dumpling.

Can you fry gnocchi?

Yes, this is a great way to add an extra crunchy texture to your gnocchi. Once cooked, add the gnocchi to a pan in a single layer with a little olive oil. Cook until browned and then flip to cook the other side.

Amy Hand
About the author
After finding the chef life a little too high-paced, Amy decided to take her cooking skills and use them to teach others through food writing. She uses her knowledge as a pastry chef and experience as a head chef to write articles that are engaging and helpful while being as entertaining as possible.

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2 responses
  1. Avatar
    Geraldine

    yummm, love gnocchi!

    1. Susan, AKA Kiwicook

      Thanks Geraldine – yes, it’s a new experience for me, but I’m willing to try it again!