Meatless Monday: 5 Ingredient Spicy Gnocchi
Part of my post-Whole 30 renewed interest in nurition and wellness has been limiting my consumption of meat. Don't get me wrong, I love a good steak and will never fully give it up, but I honestly I feel more energized, less bloated and more 'myself' when I eat more plants.
The tricky part however, can be designing a satisfying meal that is quick, comforting and can also easily please my meat-eating man. Enter my go-to fave, spicy gnocchi! I've also done a rendition of this sans gnocci, sub raviloi {or even sub Trader Joe's ahhhmazing quinoa and brown rice pasta to be gluten-free friendly!} ...really the possibilities are endless.
Even better the majority of these ingredients are kitchen staples at my house and all picked up from my local Trader Joe's. Here's what ya need, friends:
5-Ingredient Spicy Veggie Gnocchi:
1 package potato gnocchi, there are gluten-free options out there too! I've purchsed them before at specialty stores. I always buy the packaged versions in the pasta aisle, not the frozen...although in this case it shouldn't matter
1 25 oz jar, Trader Joe's Arrabiata Sauce {yup...I cheat, it's not even homemade!}
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed and roughly chopped
1 bag organic baby spinach
1-2 cups sliced portabella mushrooms, depending upon how much veg you want!
Watch {eh, read} and learn. Your weeknight dinner game is about to be blown up:
Heat 1-2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add crushed, chopped garlic and stir until fragrant.
Add spinach, 1/2 of the bag at a time, and allow to wilt. Add sliced portabellas, season with ample sea salt and fresh black pepper.
Meanwhile, heat arrabiata sauce in a sauce pan with lid, to prevent bubblig and splatter.
Cook gnocchi according to package instructions, most require boiling for 3 minutes.
Drain gnocchi, toss with a few heaping laddles of sauce, top with sautéed veggies.
Yup, literally that simple. Easy, gresh ingredients paired with pantry staples make for one quick, meatless and comforting dinner option. I like to top mine with additional black pepper and some shaved parm.
To make this suitable for a meat-eater, you can add any time of protein option. On this particular night, for Michael, I've roasted some sweet italian sausage, which he sliced up and mixed in.
May not be the most 'homemade' with the use of jarred sauce, but boy is TJ's on to something with their arrabiata. Variations of this dish are on rotation in our house, hope it makes its way to your menu soon too!
- Xo Kelly