This gnocchi with pork and fennel is a delicious combination of flavors that's hearty and comforting. Easy and quick to put together, it's a perfect any-day meal.
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Gnocchi are one of the most popular meals in our house. If you want a sense of how much my toddler likes them, basically there are two meals you can guarantee he will eat as fast as you: homemade gnocchi and chicken curry.
These days he usually eats as many gnocchi as us, after his requests for more. Despite his love for them, he's not particularly flexible in how he enjoys them, though.
I manage to get him to switch color between potato spinach gnocchi and acorn squash gnocchi, but always served the same. He likes them with green and red sauce (AKA homemade pesto and roast tomato sauce).
Typically we just have the same, since it's tasty and I don't usually want to make a second meal. Recently, though, I have been trying some different sauces for us, in part to make it more filling since my toddler is eating so many. There are only so many gnocchi I feel like rolling!
This gnocchi with pork and fennel is one such recipe, and the result is both easy and tasty. The flavors are perfect for this time of year and the whole meal is also easy on your budget.
I love fennel as an ingredient as it has a lovely flavor both raw and cooked, the two being quite different meaning it can be used in a range of ways.
When it is cooked so that it starts to caramelize, a lovely sweetness comes out that goes really well with the pork and the softness of the gnocchi. The flavor goes particularly well with a fall-flavored gnocchi like squash, pumpkin or even sweet potato.
Gnocchi are generally cheap but even more so if you make your own (plus they taste better, I think). There's not a huge amount of meat, and it's not an expensive cut anyway, but the flavor really carries through.
Steps to make gnocchi with pork and fennel
All you do is:
- Slice then soften the fennel.
- Add the pork and brown all over.
- Sprinkle over the thyme, add the stock and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat, add sour cream and parmesan then stir through the cooked gnocchi.
This gnocchi with pork and fennel is a hearty dish with a tasty range of flavors, despite being so easy to make and not having too many ingredients. It's already become a new favorite of ours (even if I can't get my son out of his rut).
Try these other tasty ways with gnocchi:
- Creamy bacon sauce with spinach (for pasta/gnocchi)
- Mushroom gnocchi
- Butternut squash sauce
- Lobster gnocchi
- Plus get more comforting dishes in the winter recipes archives.
Gnocchi with pork and fennel
Ingredients
- 1 bulb fennel medium
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ lb ground pork 225g pork mince
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- ½ cup light stock 120ml, eg chicken
- 2 tablespoon sour cream
- ½ cup parmesan 10g approx, finely grated
- 1 lb gnocchi 450g, or 1 quantity acorn squash gnocchi, approx depending on appetites
Instructions
- Slice the fennel and cut larger slices into chunks. Heat the oil in a skillet and cook the fennel over a medium-high heat until softened and starting to brown, around 7-10min.
- Meanwhile, cook the gnocchi following directions on packet/ in recipe and keep warm in a covered dish.
- Add the ground pork to the pan and brown, stirring frequently to break up the meat and ensure all is browned. Add the thyme to the pan then the stock.
- Once it has come through the boil, reduce to a gentle simmer, stir in the sour cream and parmesan and stir until mixed through then add the cooked gnocchi to the pan, stir and serve.
Nutrition
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Sue says
Just made this for dinner and husband and I really liked it! It's very light tasting since it does not have a heavy cheese sauce like many gnocchi recipes. I never cook my gnocchi - I toast it in the pan and did so for this recipe. I added some leeks that I had, and since I had no sour cream, put 2 tablespoons of whipping cream in. Next time I make it, I think I'll add a little white wine or vermouth.
Caroline's Cooking says
Glad to hear you enjoyed it! If you have store bought shelf-stable gnocchi then yes, you can get away without a separate cook. A little wine would indeed be good, I think and like the sound of leeks too (might add some myself next time!)
Gary says
Love your recipe, thank you! I used cauliflower gnocchi and it was wonderful!
Caroline's Cooking says
Glad to hear you enjoyed! It's one we love as well.
Iryna says
I love gnocchi and this recipe would be perfect for dinner. My husband would devour this in to time.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, it makes a delicious dinner!
Adrianne says
This dish looks like it has great flavour and texture. I love that you have used fennel as some people are too afraid to try it. I think anyone would be happy with a big plate of this for dinner!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, it does indeed! And I agree, fennel is a bit underused but I for one love it as an ingredient.
Jeannette (Jay Joy) says
I have tried so many times to make gnocchi but it never comes out quite right. WIsh me luck! This combination of flavors sounds amazing and glad the recipe is easy and quick to put together.
Caroline's Cooking says
You can easily use store-bought gnocchi for this recipe, as the sauce has enough flavor etc, but definitely wishing you luck to try making your own again as well!
Jillian says
Gnocchi is a favorite around my home too! This recipe is a great mix of flavors!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks! Gnocchi is such a favorite here too, and we love these flavors with them.
Petra says
Acorn squash gnocchi sounds great! And with pork and fennel! It looks like a brilliant and cost effective recipe for the family to tuck in to and just enjoy!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Petra, it's already a big favorite here.
Liz says
Your son has excellent taste! I haven't made gnocchi in ages and it's always a hit here, too. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Liz, yes he does have some pretty good favorite foods, that's for sure!
Julie says
We love gnocchi, and it is great as a side or a main meal like you've done here. Love fennel and pork, and this is a great recipe.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Julie, it has quickly become a favorite way to enjoy gnocchi in our house!