This butter gnocchi mixes Indian and Italian cuisines, bathing tender gnocchi in a creamy and richly spiced tomato sauce.

My biggest regret in life, at least when it comes to food, is that it took me until college to try Indian food for the first time. I wish I had tried it sooner because I simply cannot get enough of its bold spice, aromatics and rich flavors. Indian recipes are probably even tied with my other favorites: Italian recipes. It’s not often that I can combine the two cuisines in one dish, but this Indian-style butter gnocchi is an exception. It’s a marriage of my two favorite food regions in the world, and it’s a combination I think you’ll love, too.

This vegetarian version is based on my favorite classic butter chicken recipe, but replaces yogurt-marinated chicken with pillowy, soft gnocchi. The tender potato dumplings pair just as well with the fragrant, warmly-spiced tomato cream sauce as chicken does. And as a bonus, they add just the right amount of starchy bulk to make the dish filling and satisfying.

Serve the dish hot, accompanied by a flourish of fresh cilantro on top, an extra dollop of plain yogurt or a hot, fresh batch of homemade Indian flatbread. Butter gnocchi is a low-mess, flavor-packed feast your whole family will enjoy.

Ingredients for Indian-Style Butter Gnocchi

• Onion: An onion is the foundation of the savory sauce. For this recipe, yellow onion is best, but white onion is another type of onion that would work in a pinch.
• Ginger and garlic: These two aromatics give the sauce a zesty bite.
• Spices: A classic blend of garam masala, cumin, turmeric, chili powder and coriander is used to flavor the sauce, making the whole dish warm and fragrant.
• Lemon juice: Lemon juice adds brightness and acidity to balance the warmth of the spices and richness of the cream.
• Ghee: Ghee is clarified butter that’s traditionally used in Indian cuisine. It imparts a rich flavor to the rich tomato cream sauce.
• Crushed tomatoes: A can of crushed tomatoes gives the sauce a vibrant color and a tangy, slightly sweet flavor.
• Sugar: A bit of sugar helps bring balance to the dish by countering the acidity of the tomatoes and lemon juice.
• Salt: Salt lifts, enhances and balances all the bold flavors in this butter gnocchi recipe.
• Heavy cream: A generous pour of heavy cream into the robustly spiced tomato sauce adds richness, making the butter gnocchi irresistibly smooth and luscious.
• Gnocchi: You don’t have to know how to make gnocchi from scratch. To prepare this gnocchi recipe, simply grab a package of your favorite shelf-stable gnocchi from the supermarket and toss it right into the sauce.
• Vegetable broth: To ensure the gnocchi have enough liquid to cook, a small amount of vegetable broth is added to the sauce.
• Cilantro: For a vibrant burst of color and freshness, a handful of chopped cilantro livens up this otherwise monochromatic meal. If you think cilantro tastes like soap, opt for parsley instead.

Directions

Step 1: Saute the aromatics

In a large skillet, heat the ghee over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook it until it’s soft, about three to four minutes.

Add the garlic, ginger, cumin, garam masala, coriander, chili powder and turmeric. Cook them until they’re fragrant, one to two minutes.

Step 2: Add tomatoes and simmer the sauce

Add the tomatoes, sugar and salt. Simmer the sauce over medium-low heat until it thickens and the color deepens, 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 3: Add the cream and gnocchi

Add the cream, broth, lemon juice and gnocchi, stirring to ensure the gnocchi are completely submerged in the sauce. Cook until the gnocchi are tender, about three to five minutes.

Editor’s Tip: The cooking time for shelf-stable package gnocchi varies, so test the gnocchi often to ensure it’s fully cooked.

Step 4: Garnish and serve

To serve butter gnocchi, spoon it into shallow bowls and garnish it with fresh chopped cilantro.

Butter Gnocchi Variations

• Make it vegan: To make this vegetarian recipe vegan, use a plant-based butter and vegan-friendly heavy cream instead.
• Consider some mix-ins: Add bulk, texture and color to this recipe by stirring in a can of drained chickpeas, cubes of paneer, or 2 cups of chopped baby spinach when you add the gnocchi.
• Authentic flavor: Dried fenugreek leaves (aka kasuri methi) are a key ingredient in authentic butter chicken, but can be challenging to find at your local supermarket. If desired, you can purchase fenugreek leaves online or visit your local Indian grocery store or spice shop. Add up to 1/2 teaspoon to the sauce when you stir in the cream.
• Pack in protein: If you don’t need this dish to be vegetarian, add pieces of chopped chicken breasts or thighs. For maximum flavor, use the classic preparation method of marinating it in spiced yogurt for several hours before searing and adding it to the delectable sauce.
• Spicy butter gnocchi: The dish as written is heavily spiced, but not at all spicy. If you would like to bring some heat, you can add a few pinches of crushed red chili flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper to the sauce.

How to Store Butter Gnocchi

Indian-style butter gnocchi should be stored, refrigerated, in an airtight food storage container.

How long does butter gnocchi last?

When properly stored, butter gnocchi will stay fresh for three to four days in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze butter gnocchi?

Yes, this butter gnocchi can be made ahead and frozen. Keep in mind, though, that the dairy in the sauce may separate a little when defrosted. Store butter gnocchi in a freezer-safe container with a lid for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating it.

How should you reheat butter gnocchi?

Due to the dairy content in the butter gnocchi sauce, this dish should be reheated low and slow to preserve its taste and texture. Warm it gently over medium-low heat in a skillet, stirring occasionally, until it’s heated through. You can also microwave it in a covered, microwave-safe container at a reduced power setting until it’s hot.

Butter Gnocchi Tips

Can you use homemade gnocchi for this recipe?

Absolutely! If you enjoy making homemade gnocchi from scratch, you can certainly use them in this butter gnocchi recipe. If you choose to do so, boil them in water according to your gnocchi recipe before stirring them into the sauce, or cook them directly in the sauce. Note that fresh gnocchi may have a different cook time than store-bought packaged varieties, so monitor them closely to ensure they reach the perfect doneness.

Can you make butter gnocchi without heavy cream?

Yes! While not traditional, you can use coconut cream or coconut milk in place of heavy cream to enrich the sauce.

What else can you serve with butter gnocchi?

Nothing beats a batch of pillowy homemade naan when it comes to enjoying homemade Indian-inspired recipes. Make plain naan or knead in garlic or crumbled paneer for a burst of flavor. If you’re looking for some veggies, a bowl of steamed broccoli, cauliflower or garden peas pairs well with butter gnocchi. Garlicky sauteed spinach would also make a healthy, tasty side dish.

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