Potato gnocchi with butternut squash sauce is a well known recipe, but what makes this one stand out are all the toppings! Savory garlic chips, crispy curry leaves and umami-packed shiitake take this simple meal to a whole new level. Yet, it remains an easy, quick to make dish, perfectly suitable for a mid-week dinner. The delicious sauce comes together in just under half an hour, giving you plenty of time to prepare the toppings.
The Flavour Affair:
Potatoes + Butternut Squash + Thyme + Garlic + Shiitake + Curry Leaves + Parmesan
Butternut squash is aromatic and sweet, and complementing it with savory elements is essential to achieve a beautiful balance. Here, we play with different flavour aspects – pungent, earthy, salty, umami – and create a nice variety of textures: soft and creamy, juicy and crispy.
Potatoes: take the form of gnocchi in this recipe. Mild, earthy, fluffy and slightly starchy, potato gnocchi provide a neutral base, allowing the rest of the ingredients to shine.
Butternut Squash: just a couple of slices is plenty for 4-6 servings of the sauce. We roast it first to soften, then blend together with aromatics and chicken or vegetable stock for thinning.
Thyme: brings in an earthy, slightly bitter element and elevates the aromas. I pop a few fresh sprigs onto the baking dish with squash and add a pinch of dry herb into the sauce.
Garlic: I use garlic in three ways in this recipe: roasted, fresh and deep fried. It is truly amazing how the flavours differ from one form to another. Roasted garlic is meaty, sweet and umami-like, creating a lot of depth in the sauce. Fresh garlic adds sharp, pungent notes. Both are blended together with squash to enhance the flavours of sauce. Lastly, thin slices of garlic fried in oil turn into a kind of salty chips with an unexpected pickle-like aftertaste. They make a fabulous garnish.
Shiitake: I like these mushrooms because they are super easy to handle. They only need a few minutes of frying in oil or butter to slightly caramelize while remaining juicy on the inside. Frying also brings out deeper flavours – earthy, nutty and savory.
Curry Leaves: my favourite twist in this recipe. Typically you’ll see some sage leaves scattered around, but I much prefer the taste of curry leaves. Warm, slightly smoky and peppery, with subtle tobacco-like notes, they really elevate the dish and make it far more interesting. Check out my Curry Leaves Spice Profile to learn more about this gorgeous spice!
Parmesan: optional. If you feel a pasta without cheese is a crime against Italian cuisine, add a bit of parmesan and go easy on salt. Bear in mind that it will make the sauce a little creamier, but also a bit heavier.
Preparation Tips for Gnocchi with Butternut Squash, Shiitake, Garlic Chips and Curry Leaves:
Start with roasting the squash. Wash it and pat dry, then cut three slices from the wider part, 2.5-3cm thick. No need to peel – the skin is perfectly edible. Place onto a lined baking dish, drizzle with oil and tuck in whole garlic cloves and thyme sprigs. Roast at 200C for about 25 minutes:
.
.
You don’t have to peel garlic, either: it will soften during roasting and you can squeeze it out straight into the bowl with squash.
While the squash is roasting, put a bowl of water to boil and prepare the toppings:
- Cut the caps off the shiitake mushrooms. Wash them thoroughly to get rid of any sand and squeeze hard to get the extra water out. Slice the caps thinly across and set aside.
- Thinly slice 2-3 cloves of garlic.
- Wash and pat dry the curry leaves.
Important!! Have an oil splatter shield ready. Shiitake have high water content and curry leaves will have some drops on them. When that water gets in contact with oil, there will be lots of spillage.
- About five minutes before the squash is ready, heat 2 cups of olive oil in a small pan until very hot. Add the shiitake and fry for 1-2 minutes, until the edges caramelize. Take out with a blotted spoon and transfer onto a paper towel to drain excess fat.
- Turn the heat down to medium and add garlic slices to the same pan. Only fry them for 5-7 seconds until they just turn golden. Be careful to not burn the garlic – it literally takes no more than a few extra seconds! Again, use a blotted spoon to transfer the chips onto a paper towel.
- Lastly, fry the curry leaves. Similar to garlic, they need very little time. Watch them crisp and shrink from the edges inwards and take out before they start turning brown. If the oil is still very hot, we are talking 2-3 seconds here.
It’s perfectly ok for the toppings to sit on a plate for a bit while the sauce is coming together:
.
By now, the squash should be done and the water for gnocchi boiling. Only a couple of things left:
- Cook gnocchi according to the instructions (normally 2-3 minutes) and drain.
- Place the squash into a large bowl, squeeze the roasted garlic out of its skin and pop in a fresh clove. Add 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp dry thyme and blend until smooth. Use chicken or vegetable stock to thin the sauce to the desired consistency. If you don’t have stock, you can use starchy water from the gnocchi.
- Pour the sauce into the pan and warm through. Add the gnocchi and stir to coat.
Done! Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, load with the toppings and serve. Make sure that you’ve got all the delicious elements in one bite:
.
I hope you try this recipe, it really is incredibly flavourful and makes a super pretty dinner plate. Looking for more comforting recipes with butternut squash? Check out these dinner ideas:
Pappardelle with Squash and Porcini Mushrooms
Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut, Ginger and Prawns
Butternut Squash and Chorizo Farfalle
.
Gnocchi with Butternut Squash, Shiitake, Garlic Chips and Curry Leaves
Equipment
- 1 cooking pot
- 1 Roasting tray
- 1 small pan
- 1 medium pan
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 300 g gnocchi
- 2-3 slices of butternut squash cut from the thick end, 2.5-3cm each
- 4-5 garlic cloves unpeeled
- 4 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp plus 2 cups olive oil
- 1 garlic clove peeled
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp dry thyme
- 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock see notes
For the toppings:
- 6-8 shiitake mushrooms caps only
- 2 garlic cloves peeled
- 4 sprigs of curry leaves or about 20 leaves
- Black pepper
- Grated parmesan
Instructions
- Place the slices of squash onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with 2 tbsp of oil and arrange unpeeled garlic cloves and thyme sprigs in the middle.
- Roast in the preheated oven at 200C for 25 minutes or until soft.
In the meatime, put water for gnocchi to boil and prepare the toppings:
- Wash the shiitake caps and squeeze the extra water out. Slice thinly across.
- Thinly slice two garlic cloves.
- Wash and pat dry the curry leaves.
- Heat 2 cups of cooking oil to high in a small pan.
- Add the mushrooms and fry for 2-3 minutes until the edges caramelize.
- Take out with a blotted spoon and transfer onto a paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Lower the heat to medium.
- Add garlic slices to the same pan and fry for a few seconds (5-7) until they just turn golden. Remove with a blotted spoon.
- Add curry leaves to the same pan and fry for 3-5 seconds until just sizzling. Remove immediately.
- Cook gnocchi according to the instructions and drain.
- Place the roasted squash into a large bowl and squeeze out roasted garlic.
- Add a clove of fresh garlic, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp dry thyme and 1/2 cup of stock. Blend until smooth.
- Check for consistency and add more stock if needed.
- Transfer to a medium pan and heat through. Add the gnocchi and stir to coat.
- Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese and generous loading of toppings.
Notes
- You can use starchy water from gnocchi in place of chicken or vegetable stock.
- You can prepare the sauce in advance and refrigerate until ready to use.
101 Responses
F*ckin’ awesome things here. I am very glad to see your post. Thanks a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
Awsome post and right to the point. I am not sure if this is truly the best place to ask but do you guys have any thoughts on where to get some professional writers? Thanks 🙂
I’ve read a few good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to make such a fantastic informative web site.
Thankyou for helping out, great info .
Hello my family member! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I’d like to peer extra posts like this .
Hello! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one? Thanks a lot!
I precisely needed to appreciate you once more. I’m not certain what I could possibly have implemented without those methods contributed by you relating to such a question. It had become an absolute frightening scenario for me, but finding out the specialized avenue you processed that forced me to cry with fulfillment. I will be grateful for the help and trust you find out what a powerful job you happen to be doing teaching others by way of your websites. Most probably you haven’t come across any of us.
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
you’re really a good webmaster. The website loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you have done a great job on this topic!
Sweet web site, super pattern, real clean and utilise pleasant.
Hi, Neat post. There is an issue together with your web site in internet explorer, may check this?K IE still is the market chief and a good portion of other people will pass over your fantastic writing because of this problem.
At this time it looks like Drupal is the best blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
I really enjoy looking through on this website , it has got fantastic content. “The longing to produce great inspirations didn’t produce anything but more longing.” by Sophie Kerr.
I’m not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
naturally like your web-site but you have to test the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth however I will definitely come again again.
Outstanding post, I think people should acquire a lot from this site its very user pleasant.
Hi there, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam comments? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any assistance is very much appreciated.
Hey there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this website. Reading this info So i’m happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to don’t forget this web site and give it a glance on a constant basis.
Only wanna tell that this is very useful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
Hello! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the fantastic work!
Heya i am for the primary time here. I found this board and I to find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I am hoping to offer one thing again and help others such as you aided me.
Hey very cool website!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I am happy to find so many useful info here in the post, we need develop more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
There are certainly quite a lot of particulars like that to take into consideration. That could be a great level to bring up. I supply the ideas above as common inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you convey up the place the most important thing can be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if greatest practices have emerged around issues like that, however I am positive that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the impression of only a moment’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
Hello, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam feedback? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can advise? I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any assistance is very much appreciated.
Perfect work you have done, this web site is really cool with superb information.
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels. I will be grateful for those who continue this in future. Numerous other people can be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
I’ve read a few good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create such a wonderful informative site.
Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thank you Nonetheless I am experiencing subject with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting equivalent rss downside? Anyone who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
Hi there! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to check it out. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Superb blog and excellent style and design.
I got what you intend, thanks for putting up.Woh I am lucky to find this website through google. “Being intelligent is not a felony, but most societies evaluate it as at least a misdemeanor.” by Lazarus Long.
Thankyou for this post, I am a big big fan of this web site would like to go along updated.
An interesting discussion is price comment. I think that you must write more on this topic, it won’t be a taboo topic however generally people are not sufficient to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
I really thankful to find this website on bing, just what I was looking for : D besides bookmarked.
I was more than happy to find this net-site.I wanted to thanks in your time for this glorious learn!! I definitely having fun with each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my website 🙂
you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
I will right away seize your rss feed as I can’t in finding your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly permit me realize in order that I may subscribe. Thanks.
Rattling excellent info can be found on web blog. “Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you, and be silent.” by Epictetus.
Keep up the superb piece of work, I read few posts on this web site and I conceive that your web blog is rattling interesting and has got lots of great information.
Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was searching for!
Greetings! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!
I consider something truly interesting about your web site so I bookmarked.
You are my intake, I possess few web logs and sometimes run out from to brand : (.
Great blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Thank you, I’ve just been looking for information approximately this subject for a long time and yours is the best I have came upon so far. However, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you certain about the supply?
I am not real great with English but I find this real leisurely to interpret.
Excellent post. I used to be checking continuously this weblog and I’m impressed! Very helpful info particularly the closing phase 🙂 I deal with such information much. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic information I was looking for this information for my mission.
I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
Thank you so much for providing individuals with remarkably remarkable chance to read critical reviews from this website. It really is so pleasant plus packed with a good time for me personally and my office acquaintances to search the blog at a minimum three times per week to read the new stuff you will have. And indeed, I’m so usually satisfied considering the eye-popping hints you give. Certain 2 facts on this page are indeed the most beneficial we have had.
Sweet internet site, super style and design, real clean and apply friendly.
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later. Cheers
Hello there, just become alert to your weblog through Google, and located that it’s truly informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful for those who proceed this in future. Lots of other people will probably be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
I am not really fantastic with English but I come up this really easy to read .
It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
I think you have observed some very interesting details, regards for the post.
Absolutely indited articles, thankyou for entropy.
With every little thing which seems to be building within this specific subject matter, many of your points of view tend to be relatively exciting. On the other hand, I am sorry, but I can not give credence to your whole theory, all be it stimulating none the less. It would seem to everyone that your commentary are not entirely rationalized and in fact you are generally yourself not even wholly confident of your assertion. In any case I did enjoy reading it.
Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch since I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch!
I am lucky that I detected this web blog, exactly the right information that I was looking for! .
Unquestionably believe that which you stated. Your favourite justification seemed to be on the internet the easiest factor to consider of. I say to you, I certainly get irked whilst other folks think about issues that they plainly do not recognize about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the entire thing without having side-effects , other people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
Merely a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding design and style.
Perfect piece of work you have done, this site is really cool with excellent information.
I conceive you have observed some very interesting points, thanks for the post.
I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
Valuable information. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I’m shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my web site thus i came to “go back the desire”.I am attempting to find issues to improve my web site!I guess its adequate to make use of some of your ideas!!
I just could not depart your website prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often in order to check up on new posts
Its such as you read my thoughts! You appear to grasp so much about this, such as you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you just could do with a few p.c. to power the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is magnificent blog. A great read. I will certainly be back.
I believe you have remarked some very interesting details, appreciate it for the post.
I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They’re really convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are very short for novices. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.
Sweet internet site, super style and design, very clean and employ pleasant.
Good write-up, I’m regular visitor of one’s website, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog. Is it very difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Many thanks
It’s really a great and helpful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Outstanding post, I think website owners should acquire a lot from this blog its real user pleasant.
You really make it seem so easy together with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be really one thing which I feel I’d never understand. It sort of feels too complicated and extremely wide for me. I am taking a look forward for your next post, I will attempt to get the hang of it!
Hi there, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any help is very much appreciated.
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your site in web explorer, would test this?K IE nonetheless is the market leader and a huge portion of folks will leave out your wonderful writing due to this problem.
Thanks for any other excellent article. Where else may just anybody get that type of information in such an ideal approach of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the look for such information.
I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts in this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this web site. Studying this information So i am happy to express that I have an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I so much undoubtedly will make certain to do not omit this site and give it a glance on a constant basis.
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
rhinobridge tool works
use rhinobridge defi
I like what you guys are up also. Such smart work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my website :).
certainly like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth nevertheless I will certainly come back again.
Great post. I am facing a couple of these problems.
You really make it appear so easy with your presentation however I find this matter to be really something which I feel I’d by no means understand. It sort of feels too complex and very broad for me. I am looking forward to your next submit, I will try to get the hold of it!
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with helpful information to work on. You have performed a formidable activity and our whole neighborhood can be thankful to you.
Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
The following time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I do know it was my choice to learn, however I truly thought youd have something attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you possibly can repair should you werent too busy looking for attention.
I think other site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and excellent user friendly style and design, as well as the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
I have recently started a web site, the info you provide on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
I have not checked in here for a while as I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it grow over time.
Nice post. I used to be checking continuously this weblog and I’m inspired! Extremely useful information specially the closing section 🙂 I maintain such information a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a long time. Thanks and best of luck.