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Creamy Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Sausage, Thyme, and Sage

Creamy Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Sausage, Thyme, and Sage
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★★★★★

4.7 from 13 reviews

This Creamy Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Sausage, Thyme, and Sage is a comforting and flavorful dish that combines tender potato gnocchi with savory Italian sausage and a rich, velvety butternut squash cream sauce. Infused with fresh herbs like sage and thyme, it’s an elegant yet simple meal perfect for cozy nights.

Ingredients

Scale

Sausage and Meat

  • 12 oz Italian sausage, casings removed (approximately 3 sausage links)

Produce and Fresh Herbs

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme

Dairy

  • 1 cup heavy cream

Pantry

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 10 oz potato gnocchi
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup butternut squash puree
  • Salt and coarsely ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sausage: Remove the sausage from the casings and slice it into pieces. This helps the sausage cook evenly and release its flavors into the dish.
  2. Brown the sausage: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook for about 4 minutes on one side without turning, allowing it to brown nicely. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes on the other side.
  3. Add gnocchi and liquids: To the same skillet with sausage, add uncooked potato gnocchi, heavy cream, and chicken broth. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Cover with a lid and let cook for about 5 minutes, allowing the gnocchi to soften as the sauce comes to a boil.
  4. Incorporate butternut squash and garlic: Add the butternut squash puree and minced garlic to the skillet. Bring the sauce back to a boil on medium heat, then reduce to low-medium heat. Stir thoroughly and cook for about 3 or more minutes until the gnocchi is cooked through, the garlic is tender, and the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Cook longer if you prefer a thicker sauce.
  5. Season and add herbs: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in half of the fresh sage and half of the fresh thyme. Season with salt and freshly ground coarse black pepper, tasting carefully because the sausage may already add enough saltiness.
  6. Serve and garnish: When plating, garnish with the remaining fresh sage and thyme on top for a fresh herbal finish. Serve immediately while warm for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

  • Use your best judgment when adding salt since the sausage can be quite salty on its own.
  • If you prefer a thicker sauce, allow the dish to cook a bit longer uncovered while stirring continuously.
  • For a vegetarian version, omit the sausage and substitute vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
  • Fresh herbs enhance the aroma and flavor, so avoid dried substitutes for this recipe.
  • You can make your own butternut squash puree by roasting squash cubes until tender and then blending them until smooth.

Nutrition

Keywords: butternut squash gnocchi, creamy gnocchi recipe, Italian sausage gnocchi, sage and thyme, fall recipes, comfort food

Find it online: https://dinewithlily.com/creamy-butternut-squash-gnocchi-with-sausage-thyme-and-sage/