Gnocchi, Italian Sausage, and Kale in a Creamy Dill Sauce

Gnocchi, Italian Sausage, and Kale in a Creamy Dill Sauce is a dish that marries the rustic charm of Italian cuisine with the comforting embrace of a creamy, herb-infused meal. This culinary creation begins its journey in a large skillet, where extra virgin olive oil meets the hearty texture of Italian sausage. The sausage is browned to perfection over medium heat, ensuring each piece is thoroughly cooked and infused with flavor. Once golden and appetizing, the sausage is set aside, making room for the next layer of taste.

The skillet, now rich with sausage drippings, becomes the stage for sautéing chopped shallot and minced garlic. These aromatics are gently cooked until the shallot turns translucent and the air fills with a fragrant allure, hinting at the depth of flavor developing within the pan. Extra virgin olive oil is added as needed to keep the mixture luscious and prevent any hint of burning, ensuring that every note of flavor is preserved and enhanced.

Deglazing with chicken broth introduces a symphony of flavors, as a wooden spoon dances across the skillet, releasing the browned bits into a flavorful broth. This crucial step not only captures the essence of the browned sausage but also lays a foundation for the gnocchi and kale to absorb these rich, meaty notes. The gnocchi, tender and inviting, are added to the skillet, slowly cooking in the liquid and becoming plump with the broth’s savory taste. Kale is stirred in, wilting gracefully among the gnocchi, which adds a fresh, earthy contrast to the dish’s hearty base.

The return of the sausage to the skillet marks a reunion of flavors, as it melds with the gnocchi and kale, distributing its seasoned charm throughout the dish. The introduction of heavy cream, freshly chopped dill, and Parmesan cheese transforms the skillet’s contents into a creamy, dreamy concoction. The heat is lowered, allowing the mixture to simmer gently, thickening into a sauce that lovingly coats each ingredient. The dill’s fragrant touch elevates the dish, lending a hint of freshness that cuts through the cream’s richness, while the Parmesan cheese adds a salty, umami depth that binds all the flavors together.

To finish, the dish is seasoned with salt and ground black pepper, fine-tuning the balance between the savory, creamy, and herbaceous elements. Served hot, it’s a comforting embrace on a plate. Garnish with a sprinkle of reserved Parmesan cheese and a dash of red pepper flakes for a little gentle heat. This dish invites you to savor the layers of flavor, the textures that range from tender gnocchi to crisp kale, and the creamy sauce that ties it all together. It’s a testament to the power of simple ingredients coming together to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

Gnocchi, Italian Sausage, and Kale in a Creamy Dill Sauce

5 from 1 vote

Recipe by Kyle Taylor Course: MainsCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Total time

40

minutes

Gnocchi, Italian Sausage, and Kale in a Creamy Dill Sauce is a sumptuous blend of tender gnocchi and savory sausage enveloped in a rich, dill-infused cream sauce, punctuated by the freshness of kale and the subtle heat of red pepper flakes, creating a comforting yet sophisticated meal.

Ingredients

• 16 ounces 16 gnocchi

• 1 pound 1 ground Italian sausage

• 1 bunch 1 kale, stems removed and torn into pieces

• 1 1 shallot, finely chopped

• 3 cloves of 3 garlic, minced

• 1 cup 1 heavy cream

• 1 cup 1 chicken broth

• 1/2 cup 1/2 Parmesan cheese, grated

• 2 tablespoons 2 dill, freshly chopped

• 2 tablespoons 2 extra virgin olive oil

• for garnish, red pepper flakes

Directions

• Brown the Sausage:
  Add the extra virgin olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat, and cook the Italian sausage until it’s browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Once browned, remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
• Sauté Shallot and Garlic:
  In the same skillet, add the chopped shallot and minced garlic to the sausage drippings. Sauté until the shallot is translucent and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add more extra virgin olive oil as necessary, and move around to prevent burning.
• Deglaze with Chicken Broth:
  Pour the chicken broth into the skillet to deglaze, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. This step captures the rich flavors developed during browning.
• Cook Gnocchi and Kale:
  Add the gnocchi to the skillet, stirring gently to combine with the broth. Allow the gnocchi to cook in the liquid, absorbing flavors, about 5-7 minutes. Add more chicken broth if the mixture becomes too dry. Then, stir in the kale until it begins to wilt.
• Return Sausage:
  Return the cooked sausage to the skillet, mixing well to ensure even distribution of heat and its flavors.
• Incorporate Cream, Dill, and Cheese:
  Stir in the heavy cream, freshly chopped dill, and most of the grated Parmesan cheese. Lower the heat slightly, and let the mixture simmer gently until the sauce thickens, and 3-4 minutes.
• Finish and Serve:
  Seasoning with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Serve hot. Garnish with reserved Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.