Description
This easy Sweet Potato Gnocchi recipe brings simple ingredients together for a quick and healthy meal idea. The best homemade version uses roasted sweet potatoes and ricotta for soft texture with a warm buttery smell and golden edges. It works for a weeknight dinner, meal prep, holiday table, brunch or potluck. The secret is keeping the dough light and gentle so every bite stays tender while still holding its shape.
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potato
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 large large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 8 leaves fresh sage
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Roast 2 medium sweet potatoes at 400°F for 35 to 45 minutes until tender. Press the flesh gently with a fork and scoop it into a bowl after cooling for 10 minutes. You’ll see the skin wrinkle and the inside become soft with a deep orange color. The sweet aroma appears near the end. Skip this timing and extra moisture can make the dough sticky. Roast until the sugars concentrate because a drier mash creates lighter gnocchi.
- Combine the roasted sweet potato flesh, 1 cup ricotta cheese, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 large egg, salt and nutmeg at room temperature. Fold gently with your hands for 3 to 5 minutes until a soft dough forms. The dough should look orange with small ricotta pockets and feel slightly tacky. (I tried adding extra flour once and the gnocchi became dense. Less flour keeps the texture lighter.) Fold gently because overworking develops gluten and makes chewy gnocchi.
- Roll the dough into ropes about 1 inch thick and cut small pieces for 8 to 10 minutes. Press each piece lightly with a fork to create ridges while keeping the shape uneven and homemade. The orange pieces should have visible ridges and soft edges. Keep the pieces similar in size because uneven cooking happens when some pieces are much larger. Shape gently so the dough structure stays airy and tender.
- Drop the gnocchi into boiling water at 212°F for 3 to 5 minutes until they float. Transfer them to a skillet with 4 tablespoons butter and sage then sauté over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes. The gnocchi develop golden edges and the butter smells nutty with fresh sage. You’ll hear gentle sizzling when the pieces touch the pan. Miss this window and the surface won’t develop flavor. Cook at the right heat because browning creates deeper savory notes.
- Move the buttered gnocchi onto a white plate after sautéing for 2 minutes. Arrange the pieces naturally and add grated parmesan cheese and fresh sage leaves for finishing. The final dish shows glossy orange gnocchi with uneven browning and melted parmesan spots. The smell of sage should be clear. Avoid piling too tightly because the texture softens from trapped steam. Finish gently because presentation keeps the homemade texture visible.
Notes
Pro Tips:
- Bake sweet potatoes instead of boiling them at 400°F for 35 to 45 minutes because roasting prevents watery dough.
- Use fresh ricotta cheese with a thick texture because watery ricotta can make the gnocchi collapse during boiling.
- Cut gnocchi pieces around 1 inch wide so they cook evenly in 3 to 5 minutes.
- Freeze shaped gnocchi for 20 minutes before boiling if the dough feels too soft.
- Avoid adding all flour at once because the final dough should stay slightly tacky after mixing.
- Brown the butter for about 3 minutes before adding sage to create a deeper nutty aroma.
- Serve within 10 minutes after sautéing because the butter coating is best while glossy.
Storage: Store cooked Sweet Potato Gnocchi in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze uncooked shaped pieces on a tray for 1 hour then keep them sealed for up to 3 months. Reheat in a skillet at medium-low heat for 5 to 7 minutes with 1 tablespoon butter. Add 2 tablespoons water if the pieces feel dry. Discard gnocchi with sour smells or slimy surfaces.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 308g
- Calories: 674
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1024mg
- Fat: 23g
- Carbohydrates: 116g
- Fiber: 6g
- Cholesterol: 110mg