Pan fried gnocchi is gnocchi fried in skillet in garlic butter sauce and topped with Parmesan cheese. It only takes 15 minutes, a perfect weeknight dinner for busy days.
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What type of gnocchi you can fry
Depending on gnocchi you can skip boiling it in salted water and fry directly in butter. Any homemade fresh gnocchi (with potato or ricotta gnocchi) is great for frying directly. You don’t have to boil it first.
If buying gnocchi from store, fresh pre-made gnocchi found in refrigerated pasta section (it’s fresh gnocchi) can be directly fried in butter.
If you bought gnocchi from dried pasta section (it’s mostly vacuum packed, and not really fresh) I would recommend you boil first for a minute or two and then fry in butter.
Ingredients you’ll need
- 1 ½ lb gnocchi (store bought or homemade)
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or fresh basil for garnish
Ingredients additions and substitutions
- Instead of all butter you can use mix of olive oil and butter, if you are someone who counts calories. But butter is the way to go!
- Parmesan cheese can be substituted with crumbled gorgonzola cheese and heavy cream mix to create a creamy outer coating on pan fried gnocchi.
- Add fresh rosemary sprigs or fresh sage leaves while frying gnocchi in butter for enhanced taste and flavor.
- I do NOT recommend garlic powder in place of fresh garlic. Fresh garlic adds tons of great flavor and taste to the dish.
How to make pan fried gnocchi
Pan fried gnocchi recipe is surprisingly easy to make.
Note: gnocchi available in super market are two varieties. One is fresh pre-made gnocchi found in the refrigerated pasta section and other is dried gnocchi pasta which in dried pasta section.
For fresh pre-made gnocchi bought from refrigerated pasta section (it’s fresh gnocchi) you can use it directly to pan fry it.
If you use dried gnocchi from regular pasta section you must boil it first and then use it to pan fry.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Salt boiling water. Add gnocchi to boiling salted water. In a minute or two gnocchi will begin to float on the surface of water, indicates its cooked.
- Immediately remove gnocchi from boiling water using slotted spoon. Drain off all water and transfer to a bowl. Lay cooked gnocchi on kitchen paper towel until use to prevent it from sticking to one another.
- Melt butter in large skillet. Add minced garlic. Stir cook for a minute.
- Add salt and pepper to taste along with red chili flakes.
- Stir cook for few seconds.
- Add cooked gnocchi without overcrowding the pan.
- Cook on high heat for 5 to 8 minutes with constant stirring.
- Once gnocchi is crispy on all sides it’s ready. Pro-Tip: don’t fry them too long or the center will firm up and turn hard and you’ll loose the soft pillowy center.
- You can serve it as it is loaded with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley or basil for garnish or turn into a meal by tossing it with gorgonzola cheese and heavy cream (for creamy based gnocchi) or toss baby spinach and sun dried tomatoes to the skillet of crispy gnocchi in the end to make it a healthy meal, don’t forget to sprinkle some parmesan in the end.
- Best served immediately. Pan fried gnocchi tends to dry out quickly.
FAQS
Depending on the type of gnocchi you use you can skip boiling. Fresh homemade gnocchi or fresh pre-made gnocchi bought from refrigerated pasta section from super market can be directly fried. For more details check the section “what type of gnocchi you can fry”
Yes, homemade gnocchi can be used. If using fresh homemade gnocchi, you don’t have to boil it first. Directly fry in butter.
Depending on gnocchi you can skip boiling it in salted water and fry directly in butter. Any homemade fresh gnocchi (with potato or ricotta gnocchi) is great for frying directly. You don’t have to boil it first.
If buying gnocchi from store, fresh pre-made gnocchi found in refrigerated pasta section (it’s fresh gnocchi) can be directly fried in butter.
If you bought gnocchi from dried pasta section (it’s mostly vaccum packed, and not really fresh) I would recommend you boil first for a minute or two and then fry in butter.
You probably fried gnocchi for too long. Don’t fry them too long or the center will firm up and turn hard and you’ll loose the soft pillowy center.
Enjoy pan fried gnocchi as it is. We love it as side with roast meat, as a snack and also as a meal.
To make it a meal – toss in baby spinach and sun dried tomatoes to the skillet in the end and enjoy with fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top.
Or make a creamy sauce with gorgonzola cheese and heavy cream mix and toss pan fried gnocchi in it. Serve along with garlic bread on side.
MORE POTATO RECIPES TO TRY:
Instant Pot Garlic Butter Potatoes
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📋Pan Fried Gnocchi
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb gnocchi potato gnocchi is best
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Salt boiling water.
- Add gnocchi to boiling salted water. In a minute or two gnocchi will begin to float on the surface of water, indicates its cooked.
- Immediately remove gnocchi from boiling water using slotted spoon. Drain off all water and transfer to a bowl.
- Lay cooked gnocchi on kitchen paper towel until use to prevent it from sticking to one another.
- Melt butter in large skillet. Add minced garlic. Stir cook for a minute.
- Add salt and pepper to taste along with red chili flakes. Stir.
- Add cooked gnocchi without overcrowding the pan.
- Cook on high heat for 5 to 8 minutes with constant stirring.
- Once gnocchi is crispy on all sides it’s ready.Pro-Tip: don’t fry them too long or the center will firm up and turn hard and you’ll loose the soft pillowy center.
- You can serve it as it is loaded with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley or basil for garnish or turn into a meal by tossing it with gorgonzola cheese and heavy cream (for creamy based gnocchi) or toss baby spinach and sun dried tomatoes to the skillet of crispy gnocchi in the end to make it a healthy meal, don’t forget to sprinkle some parmesan in the end.
- Best served immediately. Pan fried gnocchi tends to dry out quickly.
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