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Crispy Brown Butter Pumpkin Gnocchi – Easy 20-Min Recipe

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Crispy pan-fried pumpkin gnocchi tossed in nutty brown butter with sage and garlic, finished with Parmesan and toasted walnuts. A quick, comforting 20-minute meal that feels fancy but is secretly simple.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) pumpkin gnocchi
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
  • 10–12 fresh sage leaves
  • 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon (3g) fine sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon (1g) freshly cracked black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ¼ cup (30g) toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (about 1 tablespoon salt per 4 cups water).
  2. Cook the gnocchi according to package directions until they float (about 2-3 minutes). Drain well; do not rinse.
  3. While gnocchi cook, melt butter in a large non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Swirl occasionally until butter foams, subsides, and golden brown specks appear (3-4 minutes).
  4. Add sage leaves and sliced garlic to the brown butter; cook for about 30 seconds until sage is crisp and garlic fragrant.
  5. Add drained gnocchi to the skillet in a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until bottoms are golden and crispy.
  6. Flip gnocchi and cook another 2-3 minutes until second side is crispy.
  7. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Toss to coat evenly. Remove from heat.
  8. Plate gnocchi, top with Parmesan and toasted walnuts/pecans, and garnish with crispy sage leaves.

Notes

Don’t skip drying the gnocchi after draining—excess water prevents browning. Use medium heat to avoid burning the butter. Work in batches if the pan is crowded. Reserve a splash of pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed. Toast nuts before adding for extra flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: crispy brown butter pumpkin gnocchi, easy gnocchi recipe, 20-minute dinner, pumpkin gnocchi, brown butter sage gnocchi, fall comfort food

Find it online: https://emmastirs.com/crispy-brown-butter-pumpkin-gnocchi-easy-20-min-recipe/