Description
Cheesy Bolognese Gnocchi Bake brings together a rich bolognese meat sauce, tender gnocchi, and a melted cheddar cheese topping for a comforting and satisfying meal. A perfect baked dish for any night of the week!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 slices of back bacon, fat removed, chopped
- 3 shallots, finely diced
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 2 small stalks of celery, finely diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 400g (14oz) extra lean beef mince (ground beef)
- 1/2 tablespoon dried mixed herbs
- 400g (14oz) chopped tomatoes, canned
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste (puree)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated sweetener or sugar (optional)
- 240ml (1 cup) chicken or beef stock
- 500g (17.5oz) pack of gnocchi
- 120g (4.2oz) mature cheddar, grated
- Olive oil cooking spray
- Salt and black pepper
- Few fresh basil leaves, torn
Instructions
- Spray a frying pan over medium-high heat with olive oil spray. Add bacon and fry until golden, then remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, add shallots, carrot, and celery, and fry to soften. Add water or stock if needed to prevent sticking.
- Add garlic and ground beef, cooking until browned.
- Return the bacon to the pan and stir in mixed herbs, chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, sweetener (or sugar), stock, and balsamic vinegar. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes until sauce is rich and thickened.
- Stir in gnocchi and simmer for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until gnocchi is cooked. Add more stock if gnocchi absorbs too much liquid.
- Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Transfer to a baking dish, top with cheddar cheese, and place under the broiler/grill for about 4 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
- Scatter with fresh torn basil and serve immediately.
Notes
- If the gnocchi absorbs too much sauce, add extra stock while simmering.
- For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of chili flakes or fresh herbs like oregano or thyme.
- Use any cheese you prefer, but mature cheddar gives a nice sharpness to the dish.
- This dish can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 45mg