Food & Cooking Recipes Ingredients Pasta and Grains Gnocchi With Tomato Sauce 4.0 (110) Pair fresh gnocchi with a simple tomato sauce for a delicious vegetarian dinner. Close Credit: Sonia Bozzo Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Total Time: 50 mins Servings: 6 Jump to recipe If you're wondering how to cook gnocchi with tomato sauce, look no further than this cozy and comforting recipe. It starts with our homemade potato gnocchi, but you can substitute store-bought gnocchi and cook according to the package instructions. There are many ways to make a tomato sauce from scratch, and if you don’t already have a favorite, this easy recipe is for you. It has two unexpected ingredients: canned tomato sauce (in addition to canned tomatoes) and white wine. The wine adds a touch of acidity and lightens the sauce. The canned tomato sauce helps speed up the cooking time by adding body, so it is ready in about 45 minutes. 19 Classic Italian Pasta Recipes Everyone Should Know How to Make What Are Gnocchi? Gnocchi are small dumplings usually treated like pasta—boiled and tossed with a sauce. They are an Italian food that is much loved all over the country, rather than belonging to one region or city. They are made with minimal ingredients, usually potatoes, eggs, and flour, and the process for making them is straightforward. Gnocchi are often formed using a fork to create the characteristic ridges that sauces cling to, but they can also be smooth. Homemade vs. Store-Bought We love homemade gnocchi and encourage you to try making them—once you do, you’ll be hooked. It’s a fun process, but it does take time to learn, especially at first. When you’re pressed for time, store-bought gnocchi are an easy dinner. They cook in less than five minutes and will work wonderfully with the homemade tomato sauce in this recipe. Gnocchi cook quickly, and overcooking can make them mushy. After they rise to the surface (this should take about 2 minutes), cook them for 15 more seconds, or until tender, then remove from the water. Tools Needed for Gnocchi With Tomato Sauce To make our gnocchi with tomato sauce, you'll need these basic pieces of kitchen equipment: Large Saucepan: We recommend using a large enough saucepan to ensure ample room to stir the sauce as it cooks without making a mess on your stovetop. You won’t need a matching lid for this recipe.Large Pot: You will need a separate large pot for cooking the gnocchi. If you don’t have a pot that’s large enough to cook the gnocchi in two batches, add fewer gnocchi at a time and cook them in three or four batches.Slotted Spoon: A slotted spoon is key for removing cooked gnocchi without catching unnecessary water. You can also use a spider—a long-handled tool with a cup-like metal basket—to transfer the gnocchi to the sauce. Directions Credit: Sonia Bozzo Cook onion and garlic: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Credit: Sonia Bozzo Add wine and cook: Add wine; cook until most liquid has evaporated. Credit: Sonia Bozzo Add tomatoes, basil, and red pepper flakes; simmer sauce: Add tomatoes and juice, tomato sauce, basil, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until slightly thick, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm. Credit: Sonia Bozzo Cook gnocchi: Bring a large pot water to a boil; add 1 tablespoon salt. Add half of the gnocchi; when they rise to the top (after about 2 minutes), continue to cook until tender, about 15 seconds more. Credit: Sonia Bozzo Add gnocchi to sauce: Transfer gnocchi with a slotted spoon to pan with sauce. Repeat process with remaining gnocchi. Credit: Sonia Bozzo Reheat gnocchi and sauce: Reheat gnocchi over low heat; gently toss. Serve with Parmesan. Credit: Sonia Bozzo Frequently Asked Questions Are gnocchi supposed to be soft or crunchy? Gnocchi should be soft, not crunchy. When cooked, gnocchi are melt-in-your-mouth, fluffy pillows. They should not be tough and crunchy, if they are, they must be undercooked. Is it better to boil or fry gnocchi? Both boiling and frying are good methods for gnocchi. Boiling is the most traditional method—and it's quick and easy. The downside is that boiling can result in gummy, waterlogged gnocchi if you cook them too long. Frying gnocchi in a little butter or oil takes more effort, but the dumplings will be crisp on the outside, chewy and soft on the inside. What sauces pair well with gnocchi? Gnocchi pair well with a variety of sauces. We prefer gnocchi with hearty or rich sauces. Besides our homemade tomato sauce recipe, gnocchi is delicious tossed with pesto, cream sauces, bolognese, or brown butter with sage. More Delicious Gnocchi Recipes to Try Gnocchi With Basic Meat Sauce Gnocchi With Peas and Eggs Potato Gnocchi With Basil Pesto Chicken and Broccolini Gnocchi Bake Tomato-Eggplant Gnocchi Updated by Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds is an experienced recipe developer, recipe tester, food editor, and writer with over a decade of experience in the food and media industries.