Description
This Pumpkin Gnocchi Bake is a comforting and creamy dish featuring tender pumpkin cubes, soft gnocchi, and a rich blend of cheeses. Enhanced with aromatic sage and crunchy pecans, it offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors. Prepared easily in an air fryer or oven, this recipe makes a delightful autumnal meal ideal for cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Herbs
- 350g pumpkin, peeled and diced into bite-sized cubes (about 2cm pieces)
- 6g sage leaves
Dairy
- 50g blue cheese or soft goat’s cheese
- 1/4 cup single dairy cream
- 50g mozzarella or cheddar cheese
Others
- 500g gnocchi
- 400ml vegetable stock
- 30g pecans
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- A small drizzle of oil (for coating sage leaves)
Instructions
- Prepare the pumpkin: Dice the pumpkin into small cubes roughly 2cm wide to ensure even cooking within 30 minutes.
- Cook pumpkin initially: For air fryer, place diced pumpkin in the basket with 100ml vegetable stock, salt, and pepper; air fry at 170°C for 15 minutes until tender but slightly firm. For oven, combine pumpkin with 100ml stock, salt, and pepper in an ovenproof dish and roast at 180°C for 20 minutes until just soft.
- Add remaining ingredients: Add the remaining 300ml vegetable stock and nestle gnocchi around the pumpkin. Crumble blue or goat’s cheese over and pour cream on top. Gently stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Cook the gnocchi and pumpkin bake: Air fry at 220°C for 12 minutes until vegetables and gnocchi are cooked through and the mixture bubbles; or roast in the oven at 220°C for 10-15 minutes similarly.
- Add topping: Sprinkle mozzarella or cheddar cheese and pecans evenly over the bake. Continue cooking—air fry for an additional 2 minutes or oven roast for 2-3 minutes—until cheese melts and turns golden.
- Crisp the sage leaves: Toss sage leaves with a small drizzle of oil to coat. Scatter over the bake and air fry or roast for 1 more minute until sage is crisp and aromatic.
Notes
- Tip: For a meaty addition, drape slices of Serrano, Parma, or Speck ham over the pumpkin during the initial air frying step until crisp. Crumble the crispy ham atop the finished bake before serving for extra flavor and texture.
- Ensure pumpkin cubes are uniformly sized to guarantee even cooking.
- Adjust cooking times slightly depending on your specific air fryer or oven model.
- This dish serves best fresh but can be refrigerated and gently reheated.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/3 of recipe)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
