Baked gnocchi with bacon, tomato and mozzarella

This easy baked gnocchi recipe with smoky bacon, tomato and mozzarella sauce is perfect for rushed weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast.

This post was originally written in 2013. 

This is comfort food. Comfort food for those who need comforting. And yesterday, I needed it (more than I normally do). You see, yesterday was not only the beginning of the 3rd school term here in SA, but also the day we had to start with Atropine drops on my darling princess. I’m not going to go into what Atropine is (you can read more here, if you so wish) but we are doing it because she has a pretty important appointment at an Optometrist this Thursday.

We found out a couple of weeks ago that her eyes are slightly squint (so slightly that we’ve never even noticed) but now there are talks of glasses and surgery and even though this isn’t, by far, the worst thing that could happen, I feel sad. I think as a mom, all you want is for your kids to be perfectly healthy and happy. Again, this isn’t even that big of a deal (and I can’t imagine what it must be like to hear your child is terribly ill, etc).

{Our beautiful Abi has been for two eye operations now after the glasses made no difference. Her eyes are perfect and the doctor is very happy. This post was originally written when I was feeling very sorry for myself and so, I’ve edited it slightly because I never want her to read this one day thinking I felt she disappointed me (which one reader pointed out) because nothing she could ever do would disappoint me. She is wonderful, smart and perfect in every way.}

Anyway, so yes, yesterday I needed comfort food. And since I also didn’t feel like spending hours in the kitchen, I knew I wanted to use a few packets of ready-made gnocchi. This isn’t something I use a lot because I really love making fresh gnocchi but it definitely is a life-saver when you’re pressed for time. I also think it works really well in a baked gnocchi dish because it’s quite a lot firmer than home-made gnocchi so the shape is retained while, I think, home-made gnocchi will just get mushy.

The sauce is made by frying bacon and then adding both tinned and halved cherry tomatoes and a splash of cream (you could also use yoghurt). The cooked gnocchi is mixed into this and then baked under a blanket of fresh, creamy fior di latte.  Perfect, easy comfort food ready in a flash.

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Baked gnocchi with bacon, tomato and mozzarella

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

40 mins

 

This easy baked gnocchi recipe with smoky bacon, tomato and mozzarella sauce is perfect for rushed weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast.

Course: Comfort food, Dinner, Gnocchi, Pasta

Servings: 2 -3

Author: Alida Ryder

Ingredients

• 500 g store-bought gnocchi
• 250 g bacon chopped
• 2 garlic cloves crushed
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• handful cherry tomatoes halved
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons cream/yoghurt
• large handful fresh parsley chopped
• salt & pepper to taste
• 100 g mozzarella sliced

Instructions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°c.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil.
3. In the meantime, make the sauce.
4. In a large, hot frying pan, fry the bacon until starting to crisp with most of the fat rendered.
5. Pour off most of the fat then add the garlic and smoked paprika and fry for 30 seconds.
6. Add all of the tomatoes and the sugar and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
7. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cream/yoghurt, parsley and seasoning.
8. Cook the gnocchi in the salted water until it starts floating to the top. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the sauce.
9. Transfer the gnocchi and sauce to an oven-proof dish and top with the sliced mozzarella.
10. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes until the mozzarella is melted and golden.
11. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

More gnocchi recipes you will love:

Lamb ragu with cauliflower gnocchi

Baked Caprese gnocchi