Description
A classic Italian dish featuring tender gnocchi tossed in a rich, flavorful Bolognese sauce made with ground beef, aromatic vegetables, fresh herbs, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a comforting family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 1 medium carrot, finely diced
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 lb (500 g) lean ground beef
- ½ cup (100 ml) dry red wine
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
- 2 cans (14 oz / 400 g each) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (250 ml) beef stock
- 2 bay leaves
Main
- 1 ½ lb (900 g) gnocchi
- ⅓ cup (30 g) grated Parmesan
- 6-8 fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large, deep pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion, carrot, and celery, cooking for 8-10 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and beef: Stir in the chopped garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Then add the ground beef and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned.
- Deglaze with wine: Pour in the red wine and cook for 1-2 minutes to allow the alcohol to evaporate.
- Add herbs and tomato paste: Stir in the tomato paste, fresh thyme, rosemary, and red chili flakes, mixing well.
- Add tomatoes and stock: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, beef stock, and add bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens.
- Cook gnocchi: While sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook according to package instructions, usually until they float to the surface.
- Combine and finish: Drain the cooked gnocchi and stir them into the thickened sauce along with the grated Parmesan and chopped fresh basil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve immediately with extra grated Parmesan on top if desired.
Notes
- If red wine is unavailable, substitute with additional beef stock or grape juice for depth.
- For a vegetarian version, replace beef with textured vegetable protein and use vegetable stock.
- Fresh herbs can be substituted with dried herbs at half the quantity.
- Use gluten-free gnocchi to make the dish gluten free.
- To enhance flavor, prepare the sauce a day ahead and reheat before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
