Gnocchi with Chard and Sausage
This simple dish is Italian comfort food at its best. Tender gnocchi pair with savory Italian sausage, leafy chard, diced tomato, cannellini beans, and cheeses for a perfectly balanced meal. Make it vegetarian by eliminating the sausage or using a plant-based substitute. It's an easy, delicious dinner the whole family will love!The original recipe was developed by the Eating Well Test Kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Italian sausage, ground
- 1 16 oz. package gnocchi like DeCecco
- 1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 6 cups chopped chard leaves (about 1 small bunch) or spinach
- 1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings
- 1 15 oz. can cannellini beans rinsed and drained
- ¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook gnocchi according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a non-stick pan, cook the sausage until no longer pink. Remove from the pan to a paper towel-lined plate and drain any excess grease from the pan, leaving about 1 teaspoon.
- Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for 5-7 minutes or till the onion softens and becomes translucent.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add the chopped chard and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the chard begins to wilt. (If needed, add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to facilitate cooking.)
- Stir in the tomatoes, beans, and pepper and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the gnocchi and sausage, and sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover and cook until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling, about 3 minutes.
- Serve hot and refrigerate any leftovers.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, simply eliminate the Italian sausage or use a plant-based alternative (which also reduces the amount of fat and calories).
- To save additional calories, use a part-skim vs. whole milk mozzarella cheese.
- The cheeses may be added to each individual serving instead of mixing them into the entire dish. This allows each person to adjust the amount of cheese to their liking and helps keep the pan from getting gummed up with melted cheese.
Nutrition Facts
Gnocchi with Chard and Sausage
Amount per Serving
Calories
509
% Daily Value*
Fat
28
g
43
%
Saturated Fat
11
g
69
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
12
g
Cholesterol
68
mg
23
%
Sodium
1266
mg
55
%
Potassium
509
mg
15
%
Carbohydrates
45
g
15
%
Fiber
7
g
29
%
Sugar
3
g
3
%
Protein
23
g
46
%
Vitamin A
2382
IU
48
%
Vitamin C
21
mg
25
%
Calcium
217
mg
22
%
Iron
7
mg
39
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.