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.
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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Notes
To boil gnocchi or not: 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.Don't fry for too long: Don’t fry them too long or the center will firm up and turn hard and you’ll loose the soft pillow-y center. Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.