Gnocchi with fennel and pork #SundaySupper

I’m not sure how it has been so long since I have posted a recipe involving gnocchi given quite how well-loved they are 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, and these days he usually eats as many gnocchi as us by the time he has come back for thirds. But maybe my lack of sharing a recipe is we tend to stick to a few favorites (like these) and my son has to have his with green and red sauce (AKA homemade pesto and roast tomato sauce) which is pretty great so we usually join him. Not really opening itself up to sharing recipes as you see.

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, it leaves less for us unless I make a huge batch. 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, the theme for today’s Sunday Supper.

The simple sauce with the gnocchi uses the principle of putting together a few flavorful ingredients that work well together to make a delicious dish. Exactly how much gnocchi to sauce can be varied depending on your preference and how much you want to stretch it as well.

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 – particularly if it’s a fall-flavored one like squash (such as this acorn squash version), 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. A little stock, sour cream and parmesan make for a surprisingly tasty and creamy sauce to bring it all together.

This is a hearty dish with a range of flavors, despite being so easy to make and not having too many ingredients. It’s definitely one I am adding to the tasty yet budget-friendly list and I hope you will too.

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Gnocchi with fennel and pork

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 2 -4

Author Caroline's Cooking

Ingredients

• 1 medium fennel bulb
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 lb/225g ground pork/pork mince
• 1/4 tsp thyme
• 1/2 cup/120ml stock
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• 1/2 cup/approx 10g finely grated parmesan
• 1 quantity of acorn squash gnocchi see separate recipe or other gnocchi, approx 2 pre-made packets depending on size/number you are feeding and to taste

Instructions

1. 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.
2. Meanwhile, cook the gnocchi following directions on packet/ in recipe and keep warm in a covered dish.
3. 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.
4. 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.

See all the other budget-friendly ideas being shared at today’s event that I am co-hosting with Shelby of Grumpy’s Honeybunch:
Save-Your-Pennies Soups:
Bean and Bacon Soup by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Mexican Turkey Bean Soup by What Smells So Good?
Pasta e Fagioli by The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine
Turkey and Dumpling Soup by Palatable Pastime
Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup by Pancake Warriors

Budget-Savvy Bread and Salads:
Mom’s Buttermilk Biscuits by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
Turkey Salad by Food Done Light

Money-Saving Mains:
Black Bean and Bell Pepper Quesadillas by My San Francisco Kitchen
Cajun Blackened Chicken Thighs by Feeding Big
Chicken Enchilada Casserole by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
Chicken Enchiladas by The Freshman Cook
Chicken Piccata by Monica’s Table
Chicken Tetrazzini by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
Chimichurri Chicken Thighs by Life Tastes Good
Dutch Baby Pancakes by Brunch with Joy
Easy Cheesy Egg Breakfast Bake with Potatoes and Sausage by From Gate to Plate [or breakfast]
Easy Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
Egyptian Rice and Lentils by Wholistic Woman
French Onion Soup Twice Baked Potato by Sew You Think You Can Cook
Gnocchi with Fennel and Pork by Caroline’s Cooking
Italian Baked Chicken by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Lasagna Stuffed Acorn Squash by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Noodles by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Orzo with Leftover Turkey and Sweet Potatoes by Cooking Chat
Sauteed Vegetables by Party Food and Entertaining
Turkey Sausage and Pasta by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Twice Baked Sweet Potato Bar by Momma’s Meals
Yakisoba (Japanese Stir Fried Noodles) by Curious Cuisinere

Don’t-break-the-bank Desserts:
Apple Pecan Bread Pudding by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Marshmallow Popcorn Balls by Pies and Plots
Slow Cooker Apple Gingerbread Crumble by The Crumby Cupcake

And more saving suggestions from the Sunday Supper Movement:
Budget-Friendly Meal Ideas for #SundaySupper

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.