Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Italian Sausage Alfredo

I know the weather is getting warmer and you're thinking lighter, healthier dishes.  I made this dish back in the beginning of April when the weather was still cool, and have been meaning to post it.  This dish is the perfect comfort food and it was super tasty!  So pin this, bookmark it, save it, for a day when you want something warm and comforting.  Now, I ended up making the sweet potato gnocchi from scratch.  However, for a quick and easy weeknight dinner I highly recommend buying the gnocchi (I've never seen frozen sweet potato gnocchi, so regular gnocchi would be just fine too!).  Then all you need to do is make the sauce.  This dish has lots of flavors and like I said, is really tasty!  The kids were able to pick out the tomatoes and mushrooms but did enjoy the gnocchi, sausage, and sauce.  I will definitely be making this again come the fall....but not the homemade gnocchi!

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Italian Sausage Alfredo
recipe from Lauren's Latest

Ingredients:
for the Sweet Potato Gnocchi:
1 cup cooked pureed sweet potato
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter

for the Italian Sausage Alfredo:
1 lb. Italian Sausage
1 cup diced onion
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 cups chopped mushrooms
2 cups lightly packed spinach, chopped
1-15 oz. jar alfredo or four cheese rosa sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
salt & pepper, to taste
fresh diced tomatoes
parmesan cheese
fresh basil

Directions:
For the sweet potato gnocchi- In a large bowl, stir pureed sweet potato, egg and salt together until combined. Slowly incorporate flour by hand (do not use a stand mixer) until just combined. Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Flour each piece liberally as well as a clean work surface. Roll each piece into a long rope about 12 inches for fatter gnocchi or 16 inches for thinner gnocchi. Cut rope of dough into gnocchi pieces about 1/2 inch per piece. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and place gnocchi onto prepared pan. Dust with more flour to prevent sticking. Repeat with remaining dough.

To cook, bring large pot of very salty water to rolling boil. Drop gnocchi into hot water working in small batches. Stir pasta around to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot or each other. Cook about 3 minutes or until gnocchi floats to the top. Remove with a slotted spoon into a large bowl and stir in 1/2 tablespoon butter to coat hot gnocchi. Repeat until all is cooked. Set aside.

To make the Italian Sausage Alfredo, heat a large heavy bottom skillet over medium high heat. Break italian sausage into hot pan and stir continuously to break apart and cook thoroughly. Remove sausage from pan into a paper towel lined bowl. Set aside. Pan should still have some sausage drippings left in the bottom. Saute onion in pan until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic, mushrooms and spinach. Cook another 3 minutes to wilt spinach and allow garlic to get fragrant. Reduce heat to medium low and stir in jar of pasta sauce. Pour heavy cream into empty jar of pasta sauce, replace lid and shake to ‘clean it out’. Pour cream into pan. Stir in remaining seasonings and cooked sausage. Cook 10 minutes. Serve sauce hot over top sweet potato gnocchi or plain pasta and top with fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and parmesan cheese.

Family Rating: 2 thumbs up.

This post is shared at:
Mix it Up Monday @ Flour Me with Love
Manic Monday Party @ Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
Melt in Your Mouth Monday @ Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms
Recipe Sharing Monday @ Jam Hands