Gnocchi Carbonara is pasta's answer to cold winter temperatures. What's that, you say? You're looking for a new twist on your old favorite hearty pasta carbonara?
Well, then this recipe is for you.
This silky Gnocchi Carbonara is made with potato and has all the traditional foundations of a classic carbonara sauce—eggs, pancetta, cheese—but it also has some surprises.
One of those surprises is the gnocchi. Gnocchi is a traditional Italian dish made by boiling flour and mashed potatoes and adding an egg to the mixture. While a carbonara is usually made with spaghetti, I was blown away the first time I tried it with gnocchi.
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The other surprise is the cheese. We swapped out the original and delicious Pecorino Romano cheese for our house favorite, Locatelli. We used cheese to give it an extra-rich quality that perfectly complements the pancetta and eggs. This recipe is delicious, easy to make, and super satisfying. Give it a try!
What about "authentic" carbonara?
Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a pasta dish that originated in Rome and contained guanciale, Pecorino Romano, eggs, and pepper. Guanciale is a type of Italian-style pork jowl that is typically used in this recipe.
The hardest part about making an authentic carbonara sauce is cooking the eggs right- if you don't do it just right, they will resemble scrambled eggs.
Ingredients + Substitutions
Gnocchi
Gnocchi di patate is a type of Italian potato dumpling that can be frozen or shelf-stable or made by hand.
Pancetta:
the meat traditionally used is guanciale but can be substituted for pancetta or bacon.
Eggs Yolks
Eggs are a binder to help form a creamy sauce .
Cheese
Parmesan is a hard cheese that is often used in pasta sauces and as an ingredient in pizza dough. Pecorino Romano is traditionally used in carbonara, but it can be substituted with grated Parmesan to make the dish.
Black Pepper
Freshly ground black pepper is essential as it cuts through this pasta sauce made with egg yolks. Black pepper is a big part of this recipe. Some may light with black pepper, but I this recipe includes a healthy amount
Step-by-Step Instructions
Gnocchi
- To begin, bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the gnocchi according to package instructions until cooked through.
- Drain gnocchi and set aside, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid
Carbonara Sauce
- In a bowl add egg yolks, black pepper, and ½ cup of cheese.
- Whisk together until ingredients are incorporated. Set aside.
Pancetta
- Cook pancetta in a pan over medium heat on the stovetop for 5-7 minutes until crispy.
- Once crispy remove pancetta from the pan and excess grease
- Return pancetta back to the pan, and add cooked gnocchi.
- Start of medium heat
- Cook pancetta and gnocchi until lightly browned.
- Add a tablespoon of pasta water in case the pan gets dry.
Adding Carbonara to Gnocchi
- Once the gnocchi is golden brat lately brown, shut off heat let cool for 2-4 minutes.
- Working quickly, add carbonara sauce to the pan, and mix to combine with gnocchi and pancetta until combined.
- If the sauce is too thick, add pasta water at 1 tablespoon at a time.
- top with remaining cheese and enjoy!
Note: Carbonara can be tricky sometimes because it's easy to overcook the pasta, so watch the timer closely!Â
Variations
Add some veggies
You can also add garlic, peas (fresh or frozen) along with the bacon and you can also mix in some spinach as well.
Bake your gnocchi
If you want to bake your gnocchi, preheat your oven to 400°F/200°C and place your gnocchi onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until they begin to brown slightly on top. Serve immediately with butter and sage if desired.
Swap your protein
If you're not a fan of pancetta, try bacon or ground beef instead. This recipe goes great with red sauce or Alfredo sauce, or even just butter and cheese.
Spaghetti for the win
Carbonara is normally made with spaghetti, so swapping in this classic pasta is a surefire win.
Serving Suggestions
Serving it with a simple side salad and steamed broccoli. We love cold beer with this meal, but any drink will taste great with this dish
Gnocchi carbonara is a rich and creamy dish that can be paired with anything. If you want to keep the carb content low, pair this dish with roasted vegetables in a light sauce.
Storage
Gnocchi Carbonara is a simple dish easily made on the fly. Preparing this in small quantities is best so it doesn't become an undertaking.
To store gnocchi, place them back into their saucepan and cover them with oiled plastic wrap or a lid-less container before transferring to the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freezing for later use. The leftovers reheat well and make an awesome lunch the next day!
FAQ
Spaghetti alla Carbonara (or carbonara Romana) is a type of Italian pasta dish made with carbonara (an egg yolk sauce) as well as guanciale, Pecorino Romano cheese, egg yolks, and black pepper typically served with spaghetti.
Store-bought gnocchi is usually made with potatoes, so it's gluten-free. Go ahead and use store-bought gnocchi if you need to!
Yes, definitely. You can swap out ingredients. The sauce is a really important part of this recipe, so keep that and use pancetta instead of bacon if you can't get guanciale.
The key is to keep the water temperature below 50 degrees Celsius. Stir constantly with a spatula until sauce is incorporated into the dish.
You can use pancetta or bacon if you're looking for a guanciale substitute.
This is a question that has been discussed for years among chefs and by foodies around the world. Many people say that if the sauce is made, the egg sauce without cream, is authentic and pure. Others argue that a good carbonara must be creamy and thick.
For them, leaving out the cream ruins the dish and one sacrifice the thickness of the sauce. I say that a no egg carbonara is not a carbonara, but it does sound delicious!
Potato gnocchi is a traditional Italian dish made by boiling flour and mashed potatoes and adding an egg to the mixture. Can I use store-bought gnocchi? Store-bought gnocchi is usually made with potatoes, so it's gluten-free. Go ahead and use store-bought gnocchi if you need to!
It's best not to freeze carbonara sauce as it is an egg based sauce and would not have the same taste and quality when frozen
📖 Recipe
Easy Gnocchi Carbonara Recipe
Gnocchi Carbonara is a delicious, quick, and easy twist on a comfort food classic. With just six ingredients, this dish takes just 15 minutes to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute dinners.
I really like cooking this dish because it’s so simple to prepare yet tastes absolutely amazing! This recipe can be cooked at home when you are looking for something different without the hassle of making your own sauces too.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of gnocchi, homemade or store-bough
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 cup of grated Locatelli cheese
- 1 tablespoon of black pepper
- ½ pound pancetta
Instructions
Gnocchi
- To begin, bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the gnocchi according to package instructions until cooked through.
- Drain gnocchi and set aside, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid
recipe for carbonara sauce
In a bowl add egg yolks, black pepper, and ½ cup of cheese and whisk together until ingredients are incorporated. Set aside.
Pancetta
- Cook pancetta in a pan over medium heat on the stovetop for 5-7 minutes until crispy.
- Once crispy remove pancetta from pan and excess grease
- Return pancetta back to the pan, and add cooked gnocchi. Start of medium heat cooked pancetta and gnocchi until gnocchi is lightly browned, add a tablespoon of pasta water in case pan gets dry.
Adding Carbonara to Gnocchi
- Once the gnocchi is golden brat lately brown, shut off heat let cool for 2-4 minutes.
- Working quickly, add carbonara sauce to the pan, and mix to combine with gnocchi and pancetta until combined.
- If the sauce is too thick, add pasta water at 1 tablespoon at a time.
- top with remaining cheese and enjoy!
Notes
Pan should be warm and not hot when adding carbonara sauce.
Feel free to add more black pepper to taste. I like it on the heavier side but not everyone does!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
3Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 511Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 208mgSodium: 294mgCarbohydrates: 65gFiber: 4gSugar: 1gProtein: 21g
Did you make this gnocchi?
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