This simple gnocchi bake, which incorporates lemon and crème fraîche to keep the tastes lively but decadent, is the ideal weekday comfort meal. This delicious bake is perfect for a relaxing Saturday night in the house paired with a glass of wine and perfect for a lazy Sunday, or even for a quick, easy, stress free dinner after work! No matter why you’re looking for your new comfort recipe- you have stumbled upon it!
Trust me- you will fall in love with the mouth melting flavour of this gnocchi after the first bite! It is everything you have dreamed off and more. This recipe takes roughly half an hour to prepare (roughly longer if you want to make your own gnocchi, which is amazing) and around 30 minutes to cook, again roughly if you are starting from scratch- which tastes so good, but you just need to set aside a little more time!
Creamy chicken and spinach gnocchi bake- ingredient list!
The list of ingredients you need appears to be long, but trust me, everything all works together in order to get that amazing burst of flavour!
Here is the list of ingredients you will need if you are making your gnocchi from scratch;
Four Maris Piper potatoes, medium
20g/¾oz of Parmesan cheese, finely grated
80g/2¾ oz of “00” flour, one big free-range egg, and extra for seasoning with salt and white pepper
Here is the list of ingredients to make the mouth melting flavour for this amazing creamy chicken and spinach bake;
Two tablespoons of olive oil
300g/10½oz of skin-and boneless chicken thighs
4 tablespoons dry white wine (60ml)
One medium onion, cut into slices; two smashed garlic cloves
Four fresh thyme springs with selected leaves
½ pint (300 ml) of crème fraîche
Juice, zest, and half a lemon
One teaspoon of runny honey
50g/1½oz mature spinach,
500g/1lb 2oz container of gnocchi (if not made your own)
and 100g/3½oz baby spinach Roughly chopped sea salt, crushed black pepper, cheddar, shredded parsley,
and one tablespoon of fresh parsley
Method- gnocchi from scratch;
This is the few step by step instructions you should follow if you want to make your gnocchi from scratch;
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Bake the potatoes until they are tender and cooked through, about 40 to 60 minutes. Cut the potato in half while it’s still hot, then use a spoon to scoop out the mushy centre before passing it through a small sieve. On a clean surface, weigh out 250g (9oz) of this baked potato mash.
Step 2
Add the Parmesan and a generous pinch of salt and pepper while still heated, and stir. Crack the egg into the well created in the centre of this mixture. Mix everything thoroughly with your hand. To begin creating a dough, add half the flour when everything is well incorporated. Add the rest of the flour when it begins to come together. Stop kneading the dough as soon as it loses its stickiness.
Step 3
To prevent it from drying out, take a quarter of the dough and place the remainder beneath a fresh tea towel or cling film. On a lightly floured work surface, gently roll the dough into a long, even sausage. Then, using a sharp knife, cut the dough into even pillows of soft gnocchi that are around 2.5 cm/1 inch long. Gnocchi can be left this way or ridged by rolling them along the back of a fork. As you work, place the formed gnocchi on a board dusted with flour.
Step 4
Continue this process with the rest of the dough, keeping the dough and gnocchi pieces covered when not using to prevent them from drying or sticking. Fill a wide deep pot with salted water and bring to a boil when you’re ready to cook the gnocchi. Add the gnocchi to the boiling water and cook over high heat for about 1 to 2 minutes; they are done when they float to the top. Drain gnocchi, then look bellow for serving steps.
Creamy chicken and spinach gnocchi bake- step by step method!
Step 1
Warm up the oven. 200°C/180°C Gas/Fan. In a large ovenproof frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until golden brown.
Step 2
Depending on its thickness, grill the chicken for a further 4 to 5 minutes on the other side after turning it over with tongs. Move the chicken to a bowl once it is cooked through and browned. The taste is concentrated in the wine, so pour it into the pan to deglaze, being careful to scrape the pan clean with a wooden spoon. Pour the wine into the bowl with the chicken after two minutes.
Step 3
Heat the last tablespoon of oil in the same pan. Add the onion and cook until it begins to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes. Fry for a further minute after adding the chopped thyme and garlic, as well as a touch of salt. Cut the cooked chicken into bits using scissors, then add the meat, wine, and any remaining liquids back to the pan. Add the lemon juice, zest, and crème fraiche and stir. Add the honey and season with salt and pepper.
Step 4
Before adding the spinach, let the sauce boil gently for two minutes. After letting the spinach wilt, add the gnocchi and mix everything well. Top the gnocchi with the Cheddar. Place the pan in the oven and bake it for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the gnocchi are soft and the cheese is golden and crispy.
Step 5
After taking it out of the oven, let it rest for five minutes. Add a pinch of black pepper and the parsley. It’s best enjoyed with crusty bread for dipping and green beans.
That is it! Your amazing gnocchi meal is finished and ready to be served and enjoyed!
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