Bolognese Gnocchi Bake
A hearty and comforting dish combining Bolognese sauce with gnocchi, baked to perfection with melted cheese.
Equipment
- Frying Pan For cooking the sauce.
- Baking Dish For baking the gnocchi.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 slices bacon, fat removed, chopped
- 3 units shallots, finely diced
- 1 unit carrot, finely diced
- 2 stalks celery, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 14 oz extra lean ground beef
- 0.5 tablespoon dried mixed herbs
- 14 oz canned chopped tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated sweetener or sugar optional
- 1 cup beef stock
- 17.5 oz gnocchi
- 4.2 oz mature cheddar, grated
- 1 spray olive oil cooking spray
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Few fresh basil leaves, torn
Instructions
- Spray a frying pan with olive oil cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped bacon and fry until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, spray a little more olive oil and add the shallots, carrot, and celery. Sauté until softened, adding a splash of water or stock if needed to prevent sticking.
- Stir in the crushed garlic and ground beef. Cook until the beef is browned.
- Return the bacon to the pan and add the dried mixed herbs, chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, sweetener (if using), beef stock, and balsamic vinegar. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes until the sauce is rich and thickened.
- Add the gnocchi to the sauce, stirring to combine. Cover and simmer for an additional 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. If the gnocchi absorbs too much liquid, add a little more stock.
- Taste the sauce and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, sprinkle the grated cheddar on top, and place under the broiler for about 4 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden.
- Garnish with fresh torn basil before serving.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, you can replace the beef with lentils or mushrooms. No alcoholic drinks allowed, please substitute with a non-alcoholic option.