Pumpkin Gnocchi and Lemon Sage Sauce is a bright, and flavorful version of classic gnocchi. The thing that makes it different is that it’s totally AIP/Paleo!
Oh, how I have missed pasta on the AIP. You, too? There are many renditions of pasta-like things out there on the AIP, but nothing is going to beat what that nasty gluten molecule can do. Alas. That doesn’t mean we should cry into our pasta pot. We just have to adjust a bit. Here, I have created a gnocchi made with only four ingredients. For more information on the flour I’m using, see my post Five AIP Flours.
There is a little technique involved, but if you can remember playing with clay, or Play-Doh when you were a kid, you can do this. Have fun with it!
💗,
Wendi
P.S. If you’ve ever wondered how in the world to pronounce gnocchi correctly, or you’re curious about how I would even have this information, watch the tutorial video below!
Pumpkin Gnocchi & Lemon Sage Sauce
Course: MainCuisine: AIP, PaleoDifficulty: Medium3-4
servings40
minutes8
minutesPumpkin Gnocchi and Lemon Sage Sauce is a bright, and flavorful version of classic gnocchi. The thing that makes it different is that it’s totally AIP/Paleo!
Ingredients
For the gnocchi:
15 oz. can organic pumpkin purée
1 T. collagen (*See note below)
1/2 t. sea salt
1/2 C. + 3-4 T. cassava flour
For the sauce:
1/4 C. extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
4 cloves of garlic, sliced
2 T. (rounded) chopped fresh sage
1/2 C. full fat coconut milk
3/4 t. sea salt, or to taste
1 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Directions
- Place pumpkin purée in a sauce pan over medium high heat. Stir and let it bubble until it has reduced to about 3/4 of its original volume.
- Transfer the pumpkin purée to a large bowl. Add gelatin, sea salt, and 1/2 cup cassava flour. Stir.
- Now, by tablespoon, add cassava flour, stirring each time, until you get something that is the consistency of a brand new can of Play-Doh. You should be able to work it with your hands, and roll it on the counter without any flour, and without it sticking. You should need 3-4 tablespoons.
- Divide the dough into four pieces. Roll the first piece into a “snake” that is 1/2” in diameter. Cut this into pieces that are about the size of a Tootsie Roll. (Apparently, I have childhood on the brain.)
- Place a fork, tines down, on the counter. Take a piece of dough, press it against the back of the fork to make a dimple, then roll it off. You should end up with a happy little dough blob with a dimple on one side, and ridges on the other. ***SEE TUTORIAL VIDEO.
- As you complete each piece, transfer to a floured plate, or cookie sheet. (NOTE: from this point, you can either continue, or put pieces in a single layer on parchment paper and freeze.)
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add all the pieces. They will sink to the bottom. As they cook, however, they will rise to the surface. When they reach the surface, time them for three minutes.
- Drain, and top with your favorite sauce. If you don’t have a favorite sauce, continue on to the Light Lemon Sage Sauce. 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
- In a small sauce pan over medium heat, warm up EVOO. Add garlic and sage. Sauté until garlic is golden. Turn down heat a bit. Stir in coconut milk. Add salt and lemon.
Notes
- I’ve tried the gnocchi with a thicker version of this sauce, and the whole mouth feel was just kind of gloppy and mushy. I decided I liked the lighter sauce better. But you do you! If you want to use a no-mato sauce, or thicken this one up, that’s totally up to you. It’s your pasta. 😋
- UPDATE: When I first created this recipe, I thought that collagen and gelatin were the same thing as both cans say “gelatin” on them. Since collagen doesn’t hold together in heat, it is not even theoretically needed in this recipe. I haven’t yet tried it without. Once I do, I will update the recipe to reflect my findings. If you try it, please report back! -Wendi
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Hi Wendi! This looks delish, can’t wait to try it! Wondering about the gelatin – I see you used the Great Lakes brand collagen, I assume it will work as well as the “red can” which I believe is gelatin? (unless GL changed colors on me!)
Also, where did you study/perform opera? I’ve been with the Sarasota Opera company for 20 years (in the orchestra). Cheers! 😀
Hi, Sandy! I bought the green can since I can use it in my smoothies, too. I don’t know about the red can. The whole green can vs. red can is so confusing. Gah! Let me know the result, will you?
As for opera, I traveled wherever I got hired. Auditions in NYC, blah, blah, blah. You know the drill. I graduated from Arizona State, then studied with a teacher and a coach in NYC. Now? I’m a food blogger. Go figure. 😜
Can’t wait to try this. I love pumpkin! The green can is able to go right in to any liquid (especially cold). The red can is not hydrolyzed & you have to “bloom” it in hot water before using it. I’m not sure if it would work especially because it takes time to work with the dough.
Hi Cat! I have just edited the recipe. See my comments in the recipe notes….
I can’t do cassava- it’s a fodmap- but what do you think about subbing arrowroot or tapioca? I’ve never used cassava, so I’m not familiar with it’s properties…
Sounds delicious!
Aw, bummer, Jennifer! Cassava flour is very similar in texture to regular flour. I feel like arrowroot would be too light for gnocchi. I’ve never worked with tapioca – it’s on my list! If you try it, let me know how it works out. Sometimes, I do so miss regular ol’ flour… 😩
What can I use besides the collagen gelatin, I can not use products that promote collagen
Hi! Eggs are often used to bind gnocchi, but of course they’re not AIP friendly. If you CAN tolerate eggs, try using one, but keep an eye on the consistency. If, however, you do not wish to use any animal product, I am at loss for what would hold the mixture together, especially when it boils. I think without a binder of some kind, it would fall apart. Let me know what you come up with!
agar agar is a seaweed (and is aip) that is an alternative for binding food
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Thanks for including me, Sophie! 💗
OMG! So delicious! Thank you for sharing this beautiful recipe. Even my picky husband who could eat nothing but steak and a baked potato every day loved it. Will add this recipe to my fall rotation.
Now THAT is some pretty high praise. Thank you!!! Happy Fall! 🍂🍁🍂
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Loved how easy these came together! Thanks for the recipe!
Oh I’m so glad you like them! I have a lot of fun with them, too, and sometimes I just need a break from meat… 😀 Thank you for reaching out! -Wendi
This was a huge hit in our house! Texture of gnocchi was fabulous, the sauce incredibly tasty. Husband kept remarking that he couldn’t believe how good the sauce tasted. Thanks for a great recipe, keeping this one handy next time we have guests over – felt decadent and restaurant-like.
Hi, Sarah! THANK YOU! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. It means a lot to me to hear stuff like that. It makes what I do a JOY. 🙂
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These were delicious! I was a little intimidated, but it was kind of therapeutic to roll the gnocchi.
Oh Cathy, I’m so glad! It really is sort of like playing with Play-Doh. I’m a firm believer in playing with your food. 😀
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Hi Wendi! I’m tripling these so that I can freeze some for Thanksgiving. How would you prepare out of the freezer? Boil frozen and 3 minutes once they float – or longer since they’re frozen? Thanks.. this recipe and delicious and simple.. perfect combination!
Hi, Kelly! It’s been a while since I froze the gnocchi and cooked them later. It seems to me that I plopped them in the water frozen, and waited for them to float, just like when they’re fresh. I don’t remember how long that took, but it wasn’t terribly long. I’m so glad you like it! Have a fantastic day! 🙂
These look so good. I was wondering if I could use dry sage in place of the fresh sage for the sauce?
Hi, Monica! Good question. Though I haven’t tried it, as I think about it, it would probably be fine for taste, but since dried is in itty-bitty pieces, I think it might make your gnocchi a weird color – sort of an army green over orange. If that doesn’t bother you, go for it! This is all just a guess, though, since I haven’t actually tried it myself… Please let me know how it goes!
This tastes so good! And the leftover sauce works great as a salad dressing🤩 I had mine over fresh spinach leaves for lunch, and it was delicious🌱
What a great idea! I’d never thought of it as a salad dressing. Thanks for the tip! 😀