bbbbbrrrrr, it’s freezing in Perth this week!  I’m not at my sparkly best in the cold.  Sunshine makes me sparkly.  Running around in the cold makes me crave fast, comforting meals so I can get back to snuggling on the couch with  re-runs of Gossip Girl  a good book, a block of chocolate and my favourite blanket.

It doesn’t get much faster, easier or more comforting than this.  My favourite winter midweek meal – the one I rely on to make me feel better after a day of dysfunctional umbrellas and icy cold puddle splashes from passing cars.   Hot, spicy, filling and ready to munch in less than ten minutes.  Bliss.

For 2-3 serves:

  • Gnocchi (my friend Kyllie makes incredible home-made pasta but if you’re not that talented, I hear ya!  Us mere mortals can find pre-made gnocchi in the fridge or health food section of our local supermarket or wholefoods store.  If you’re lucky like me, you will find one that is vegan and gluten-free.  Fist pumping!)
  • 1 jar of organic tomato pasta sauce
  • 1/2 brown onion, peeled and chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 red chilli, seeded and chopped
  • 3 handfuls mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 handful English spinach leaves
  • 1 handful fresh basil leaves
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
  • Pine nuts (to serve)
  1. Heat a large pot of water on high until boiling.
  2. In another large saucepan, sauté onions, garlic, chilli and mushrooms in a splash of oil until the onions are translucent.  Add tomato sauce and leave to simmer.
  3. Add gnocchi to the pot of boiling water.  Wait until it rises to the top (about 2 minutes), then drain and add cooked gnocchi to the tomato sauce pan.
  4. Stir gnocchi, spinach and basil through the sauce and season with Himalayan salt and cracked pepper (and nutritional yeast if you fancy a cheesy flavour).
  5. Serve topped with basil and pine nuts.

Enjoy with a glass of organic Shiraz and your favourite winter guilty pleasure…   Anyone know when the next season of Gossip Girl is due to start??

 

 

22 Comments on Spicy Tomato & Basil Gnocchi

  1. Gabby @ the veggie nook
    July 10, 2012 at 4:24 pm (12 years ago)

    Looks amazing, gnocchi is so delicious (doesn’t surpise me that I think so- I love potatoes so combine it with pasta and I’m there!).

    I hope you warm up!

    • * Vegan Sparkles *
      July 11, 2012 at 8:45 am (12 years ago)

      Thanks Gabby! The gnocchi definitely helped to make me feel toasty warm again. 🙂

  2. Barb@ThatWasVegan
    July 10, 2012 at 10:15 pm (12 years ago)

    Okay, ENOUGH! It’s 8:15 am here, you cannot have me craving gnocchi at this hour! What kind of monster are you??? 🙂

    I second Gabby- hope it warms up for you soon!

    • * Vegan Sparkles *
      July 11, 2012 at 8:46 am (12 years ago)

      haha, breakfast gnocchi… now there’s an idea….. 😉

  3. Danelle
    July 11, 2012 at 2:25 pm (12 years ago)

    I absolutely love gnocchi! 🙂 Where did you find the vegan gluten-free gnocchi? I’ve been on the hunt for gnocchi recently but haven’t been able to find anything vegan-friendly. I think it’d be fun to try make it from scratch sometime but it’d be great to have some in the pantry for a quick meal in the meantime. 🙂

    • * Vegan Sparkles *
      July 11, 2012 at 2:53 pm (12 years ago)

      I found it in the health food aisle at Woolworths, Dani, of all places! I think Loose Produce in Como sell it too. I prefer the fresh pasta in the fridge section but haven’t been able to find a vegan one lately – happily the WW one is delish!
      Ohhh, I’d love to make it from scratch sometime too! I still drool when I think about an amazing pumpkin gnocchi with sage butter I had at a restaurant once before I was vegan. I’ll have to attempt to create a vegan version sometime. 🙂

      • Danielle
        July 12, 2012 at 8:45 am (12 years ago)

        Hmm… I’ll have to keep an eye out. I peeked in the health food section of my local Woolworths awhile ago, but unfortunately they aren’t particularly well stocked. I’m NOR but I have a friend who lives in Como, so I’ll have to locate Loose Produce next time I’m in the area!

        I have a recipe for hand-made gnocchi with sage butter in one of my vegan cookbooks (there’s also one for hand-made pumpkin ravioli with sage butter); if you’re interested, I could send the recipe through to you, so you can experiment when you have the time. 🙂

      • * Vegan Sparkles *
        July 12, 2012 at 5:03 pm (12 years ago)

        I would LOVE that! Thanks Dani!! mmmmmmm, I can taste it already…. 🙂

    • Danielle
      July 12, 2012 at 5:43 pm (12 years ago)

      No problems! 🙂 Do you have an email address I can send it to? I don’t have a facebook account and I’m not sure how else to send it through!

      • * Vegan Sparkles *
        July 13, 2012 at 9:51 am (12 years ago)

        I sure do! bex @ vegansparkles.com (without the spaces) 🙂

  4. Reia@TheCrueltyFreeReview
    July 12, 2012 at 3:09 am (12 years ago)

    I don’t eat nearly enough gnocchi. This recipe should change that!

    • * Vegan Sparkles *
      July 12, 2012 at 5:02 pm (12 years ago)

      haha, absolutely! Get into it, Reia! 🙂

  5. Marissa Rath (@MarissaRath)
    July 15, 2012 at 1:02 pm (12 years ago)

    Nom – I have been searching for a gnocchi recipe. I can’t wait to try this out. Thanks!

    • * Vegan Sparkles *
      July 16, 2012 at 9:54 am (12 years ago)

      My pleasure, I hope you enjoy it and I am LOVING the sparkle background on your twitter page, Marissa! 🙂

  6. Nat
    July 16, 2012 at 12:28 pm (12 years ago)

    I was planning on curling up and watching Gossip Girl tonight, I think this will make the night a sure fire win!

    • * Vegan Sparkles *
      July 16, 2012 at 1:19 pm (12 years ago)

      haha, YAY, finally another Gossip Girl fan! Sounds like the perfect night in to me! 🙂

  7. Robin Jean Marie
    July 16, 2012 at 10:40 pm (12 years ago)

    That’s my kind of comfort food!

    • * Vegan Sparkles *
      July 17, 2012 at 2:44 pm (12 years ago)

      mmmmmm, I might have to make it again tonight! 😉

  8. Danny @ Boy & the Rabbit
    July 25, 2012 at 12:06 am (12 years ago)

    Gnocchi… my one true weakness 😉 But seriously, I can so easily picture this meal after a stressful winter day, curled up on the couch with a small bowl and a good book. Thanks for the inspiration!

    • * Vegan Sparkles *
      July 25, 2012 at 2:32 pm (12 years ago)

      My pleasure! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 🙂

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