Gnocchi with Mascarpone and Tomato Sauce

You and your guests will love this creamy gnocchi with mascarpone and tomato sauce recipe. This simple pasta dish is easy to put together and can be ready in 30 minutes. It's super delicious, filling, and comforting!

If you are looking for mascarpone recipes, try this mascarpone and tomato sauce with gnocchi recipe today. This mascarpone gnocchi recipe is a restaurant-quality pasta dish that you can make on any night of the week. Everyone will be asking for seconds! 

This recipe is inspired by these Gnocchi Sheet Pan and Instant Pot Creamy Gnocchi with Sausage Soup recipes on my site.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Gnocchi with Mascarpone and Tomato Sauce Recipe
• Ingredients 
• How to Make Mascarpone Sauce with Gnocchi
• Recipe Tips
• Storage
• How to Reheat
• FAQ
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

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Why You'll Love This Gnocchi with Mascarpone and Tomato Sauce Recipe

1. Flavor-packed. The gnocchi is tossed in a smooth tomato and mascarpone sauce that has been laced with vodka. It's quite similar to penne alla vodka but instead of using penne, you will be using gnocchi and replacing the heavy cream with mascarpone. 
2. Veggie-packed. This mascarpone gnocchi is quite healthy too. It's loaded with tomato, mushrooms, and spinach. These vegetables have been shown to benefit health in many ways. 
3. Quick and Easy. The sauce takes about 15 minutes of cooking time while store-bought gnocchi takes 2-4 minutes of cooking time depending on the brand. 

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Ingredients 

Here's the ingredient list you'll need to make this gnocchi with creamy mascarpone sauce 

• Gnocchi. I used potato gnocchi from the De Cecco company. If you prefer to use freshly homemade gnocchi, you can do that too! 
• Vodka. I used Grey Goose Vodka. If you don't have any Vodka on hand, you can use Gin or your favorite white wine instead. Vodka adds depth to the sauce without adding a flavor of its own. 
• Marinara Sauce. You can use marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, or passata. I personally used store-bought marinara sauce because it contains herbs and seasonings. And for that reason, adding extra herbs or other seasonings to the mascarpone sauce isn't necessary. 

• Vegetables. I used a combination of shallots and garlic as an aromatic base for the sauce. I also added mushrooms and spinach to make this pasta even healthier. 
• Mascarpone. It's another type of Italian cheese. This thick but soft and creamy cheese is slightly sweet. It's the perfect ingredient for creating a smooth pasta sauce. 
• Parmesan Cheese. Another cheese that I used to add creaminess to the sauce. 
• Butter. I used unsalted butter to sweeten the shallots and garlic. Butter also adds richness and cuts the acidity of tomatoes. 
• Seasonings. I used a pinch of red pepper flakes to add a spicy kick to the sauce. I also seasoned the pasta and the sauce lightly with salt and black pepper. 

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How to Make Mascarpone Sauce with Gnocchi

The preparation and cooking process of this gnocchi with mascarpone and tomato sauce is not complicated. Here's what you need to do. 

Preparation

• Chop the shallots. 
• Mince the garlic. 
• Clean and slice the mushrooms. 
• Grate the parmesan cheese. 
• Put enough water to cook gnocchi in a large pot. 

Cooking Process 

Step 1. Cook Gnocchi 

• Fill a pot with enough water then bring to a boil then season with salt. 
• Cook gnocchi according to the product packaging.
• Drain the gnocchi and reserve some of the pasta water.

Step 2. Make the Mascarpone and Tomato Sauce 

• In a deep skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. 
• Cook shallots and mushrooms for 5 minutes. 
• Add garlic and cook for about 2 minutes. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if needed. 
• Turn the heat to medium-low. Add vodka and deglaze the pan by gently scraping the bottom of the pan with a spatula. Continue cooking until the vodka is almost gone. 
• Add broth and simmer for 2 minutes or until it's slightly reduced. 

• Add marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened, and until you have enough sauce for gnocchi. 
• Taste the sauce and season with salt and black pepper according to your liking.

• Add spinach and cook until it's wilted.
• Turn off the heat. 

Step 2. Add Cheese and Gnocchi

• Add mascarpone and parmesan cheese to the sauce. Stir until the sauce is smooth. 
• Add gnocchi and add ¼ to ½ cup of pasta water. Stir to combine. 

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Recipe Tips

• Always use freshly grated cheese. Fresh cheese creates a creamier and fresher-tasting sauce. In addition, fresh cheese will prevent clump and gritty texture in the sauce because they melt better than pre-grated cheese. 
• To create a smooth sauce. Make sure that you turn off the heat before adding mascarpone and parmesan cheese to the sauce. You also want to add the parmesan cheese bit-by-bit as you stir the liquid and pasta, so the cheese melts evenly and avoids clumping. 
• Spinach. If you don't like spinach, you can skip it.
• Mushrooms. Make sure that you cut the mushrooms into similar size pieces (about ½ to ¼ inch thick). Do not cut them too thin because they will shrink.

• To thin out the sauce. It's so much easier to thin the sauce instead of thickening it after adding spinach, gnocchi, mascarpone cheese, and parmesan cheese. For this reason, give the sauce enough time to reduce and concentrate the flavor before adding the last 4 ingredients. If you think the sauce is too thick, you can always add a small amount of pasta water after you add gnocchi until it reaches the desired consistency. 
• Non-alcoholic substitute. If you are avoiding any alcohol, feel free to replace it with chicken or vegetable broth. 
• Protein. This gnocchi with mascarpone sauce goes well with any protein, such as sausages, shrimp, and chicken. 
• Creamier. The pasta water will make the sauce creamier. If you like, you can use more mascarpone cheese in the sauce. 

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Storage

Discard any leftovers that have been left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature or 1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F. You can learn more here.

• Let the gnocchi pasta cool to room temperature before refrigerating.
• Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container.
• Store the leftovers for 2-3 days in the fridge or up to 2 months in the freezer.

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How to Reheat

You can reheat the leftover creamy mascarpone gnocchi in a skillet, microwave, or oven.

Option 1. In a Microwave

• Place a single serving of creamy mascarpone gnocchi in a microwave-safe bowl.
• Add a small amount of water or broth then stir.
• Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid.
• Reheat the gnocchi at medium heat, in 90-second intervals, stirring between each.

Option 2. In a Skillet

• Place the leftovers in a skillet.
• Add a small amount of water or broth then stir.
• Reheat the gnocchi at medium heat.
• Stir your pasta frequently for about two to five minutes or until hot.

Option 3. In the Oven

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Place the leftovers in a baking dish.
• Add a small amount of water or broth then stir.
• Cover the dish with an oven-safe lid or foil.
• Reheat for about 10-15 minutes.

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FAQ

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Check Out More Delicious Pasta Recipes

• Simple Mushroom Pasta
• Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Pasta
• Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
• Old Bay Shrimp Pasta
• Easy Lemon Pasta

I hope you'll enjoy this recipe and share it with friends! If you try it and don’t mind, please leave me a comment and/or give this recipe a rating. Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly recipes and follow me on Pinterest.

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