Basil Pesto Gnocchi with Mushrooms & Pistachio Breadcrumbs

Step 1

1 Prepare the ingredients Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Finely chop the pistachios. Thinly slice the mushrooms. Halve the tomatoes. Grate the Grana Padano on the small side of a box grater.

Step 2

2 Make the pistachio breadcrumbs In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the chopped pistachios and breadcrumbs; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned and toasted. Transfer to a plate. Wipe out the pan.

Step 3

3 Cook the sausage In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot Add the sausage. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 7 to 9 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a bowl.

Step 4

4 Cook the vegetables In the pan of reserved fond, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced mushrooms in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until browned. Add the halved tomatoes and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly softened. Turn off the heat.

Step 5

5 Cook the gnocchi Meanwhile, add the gnocchi to the pot of boiling water. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until the gnocchi float to the top of the pot. Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/4 cup of the gnocchi cooking water, drain thoroughly.

Step 6

6 Finish the gnocchi & serve your dish To the pan of cooked vegetables, add the cooked sausage, cooked gnocchi and half the reserved gnocchi cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the gnocchi are coated. Turn off the heat. Add the pesto and mascarpone; stir to thoroughly combine (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the gnocchi are thoroughly coated). Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished gnocchi garnished with the pistachio breadcrumbs and grated Grana Padano. Enjoy!

Step 7

1 Prepare the ingredients Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Finely chop the pistachios. Thinly slice the mushrooms. Halve the tomatoes. Grate the Grana Padano on the small side of a box grater.

Step 8

2 Make the pistachio breadcrumbs In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the chopped pistachios and breadcrumbs; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned and toasted. Transfer to a plate. Wipe out the pan.

Step 9

3 Cook the sausage In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot Add the sausage. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 7 to 9 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a bowl.

Step 10

4 Cook the vegetables In the pan of reserved fond, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced mushrooms in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until browned. Add the halved tomatoes and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly softened. Turn off the heat.

Step 11

5 Cook the gnocchi Meanwhile, add the gnocchi to the pot of boiling water. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until the gnocchi float to the top of the pot. Turn off the heat. Reserving 1/4 cup of the gnocchi cooking water, drain thoroughly.

Step 12

6 Finish the gnocchi & serve your dish To the pan of cooked vegetables, add the cooked sausage, cooked gnocchi and half the reserved gnocchi cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the gnocchi are coated. Turn off the heat. Add the pesto and mascarpone; stir to thoroughly combine (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the gnocchi are thoroughly coated). Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished gnocchi garnished with the pistachio breadcrumbs and grated Grana Padano. Enjoy!