In Italian, gnocchi literally translates to “lumps.” The word doesn’t do this delicious Northern Italian food justice. Gnocchi is pillowy, soft, and tender, and just like spaghetti or penne, it pairs well with pretty much anything you like. Ragu, creamy mushroom sauce, cheese, even curry sauce—you name it and it’s likely gnocchi will taste delicious with it. These fluffy dumplings are undeniably delicious and versatile. Here are some of our favorite plant-based ways to cook with them.
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Is gnocchi pasta or potato?
Most traditional Italian pastas are made with wheat, but gnocchi is a little different. It still technically fits the definition of pasta (which refers to dough formed into shapes), but it’s actually made with a combination of flour, egg, and potatoes. This is because gnocchi comes from northern Italy’s Veneto region, where, historically, potatoes have been much easier to grow thanks to the colder temperatures.
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So technically, gnocchi is both pasta and potato, although it’s usually treated like pasta in Italian cuisine. Instead of eggs, gnocchi can also be made with ingredients like vegan egg replacer or olive oil.
What do you eat with gnocchi?
Gnocchi is often served with a simple tomato marinara sauce and garnished with basil and parmesan cheese, but there are many ways to enjoy these small pillowy dumplings. They can be baked, boiled, and even fried if you want a slightly crispier texture, and then combined with any of your favorite sauces. Below, we’ve listed some of our favorite ways to serve gnocchi, from classic Italian soup to mac and cheese to fusion recipes.
8 vegan gnocchi recipes
These eight delicious recipes are a guaranteed hit come pasta night.
1 Vegan Creamy Italian Gnocchi Soup
Rich, delicious, hearty, and flavorful, this creamy Italian gnocchi soup from the Fast Easy Cheap Vegan cookbook is packed with nourishing, nutrient-dense ingredients, including carrots, garlic, onions, and celery. It’s the perfect recipe to keep on hand for cold fall and winter evenings.
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Jessica Randhawa
2 Pillowy Gnocchi With Roasted Eggplant and Tomato
When you want a quick, easy dinner dish for midweek, you can’t beat this gnocchi recipe. It’s comforting and filling, and thanks to vegetables like eggplant and tomatoes, it’s loaded with goodness, too. If you’re not a fan of eggplant, this simple dish will also work with ingredients like mushrooms, zucchini, onions, and any other of your favorite vegetables.
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3 Vegan Chorizo and Sundried Tomato Gnocchi Bake
Sundried tomatoes and meaty vegan chorizo make this gnocchi bake a hearty, comforting, cozy dish. Taken from the Anything You Can Cook, I Can Cook Vegan cookbook, the recipe is about to become your midweek go-to anytime you need a pick-me-up.
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The First Mess
4 Creamy Vegan Gnocchi Skillet With Pesto, Lentils & Broccoli Rabe
Pesto is the perfect accompaniment to most Italian ingredients, and gnocchi is no exception. This skillet recipe from The First Mess also combines the popular Genoan paste with nutritious lentils and broccoli rabe with delicious results. “Ready within 30 minutes, this vegan gnocchi skillet is the perfect hearty dinner for plant-based folks and omnivores alike,” says recipe creator Laura Wright.
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Rabbit and Wolves
5 Vegan Gnocchi Mushroom Florentine
Creamy mushroom Florentine is usually made with penne pasta or tagliatelle, but gnocchi is also a delicious accompaniment. This recipe from Rabbits and Wolves will walk you through how to make gnocchi from scratch, as well as a hearty flavorful sauce with almond milk and veggie stock.
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Rabbit and Wolves
6 Vegan Herbed Gnocchi Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is an American classic. It’s cheesy, it’s creamy, and it’s incredibly comforting, especially when the weather is gloomy outside. But while the popular dish is usually made with macaroni (of course), gnocchi is also a great alternative. In fact, Rabbits and Wolves founder Lauren Hartmann says the combination is “next freaking level.” She adds: “Comfort food at its best.”
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Carrots and Flowers
7 Panang Curry Gnocchi With Vegan Sausage
This fusion recipe from Carrots and Flowers combines panang—a rich, thick Thai red curry—with Italian gnocchi and vegan sausage, and it tastes “harmonious and irresistible,” says recipe developer Megan Sadd. She continues: “It’s a fantastic option for those who want to experiment with different cuisines.”
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Wandering Chickpea
8 Gochujang Gnocchi
Korean fermented chili paste gochujang is known for its signature umami taste. It’s a little salty, spicy, and slightly sweet, too. Basically, it ticks all of the boxes. It combines well with many different ingredients, including tofu, mushrooms, and, of course, gnocchi. This recipe is a vegan twist on the Korean classic tteok-bokki, and it’s delicious. “Instead of sticky rice cakes, I use gnocchi, which are slightly more pillowy and go wonderfully with that thick, sweet sauce,” says recipe developer Elaine Skiadas.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
