GNOCCHI AND HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE 

THE TASTE OF ITALY!

INGREDIENTS:
TOMATO SAUCE
2 TBSP OLIVE OIL
1 ONION (FINELY CHOPPED)
2 CLOVES GARLIC (MINCED/CRUSHED)
2 400g TINS OF CHOPPED TOMATOES, ‘PASSATA’ (OR 8x FRESH TOMATOES-SEE TOMATO SOUP RECIPE)

ANY OF THE FOLLOWING VEGETABLES (FINELY CHOPPED): 1 CELERY STICK, 2 CARROTS, 1 ZUCCHINI (COURGETTE), 1 RED PEPPER

2 TSP DRIED HERBS: (SUCH AS ITALIAN HERBS, BASIL, PARSLEY, THYME, OREGANO, SAGE)
1 TBS BALSAMIC VINEGAR (OR LEMON OR LIME JUICE)
1 TBS BROWN SUGAR

600g (PACKET) GNOCCHI
1 TBSP BUTTER
1 TBSP OLIVE OIL
S&P

GARNISH:
CHEESE (GRATED PARMESAN OR SHREDDED MOZZARELLA)
FRESH BASIL LEAVES

UTENSILS:
BLENDER, FRYING PAN, SAUCEPAN, MEASURING SPOONS, GRATER, KNIFE, CHOPPING BOARD. 

METHOD:
TOMATO SAUCE:
ON A MEDIUM/HIGH HEAT, ADD THE OLIVE OIL, THE ONION AND GARLIC INTO THE FRYING PAN.
FRY UNTIL THE ONION IS SOFT AND TRANSPARENT.
ADD THE VEGETABLES, COVER AND COOK FOR 10 MINUTES, STIRRING EVERY FEW MINUTES. (ANOTHER OPTION IS TO ROAST THE VEGETABLES IN THE OVEN UNTIL SOFT).
NEXT, ADD THE TOMATOES, VINEGAR, SUGAR AND DRIED HERBS AND COOK FOR ANOTHER 20 MINUTES.
ONCE THE SAUCE HAS ‘REDUCED'(LESS LIQUID DUE TO EVAPORATION), BLEND THIS TOMATO MIXTURE IN A BLENDER UNTIL SMOOTH. THE RESULT IS A FRESH, TASTY AND LIGHT SAUCE.

GNOCCHI:
HEAT THE BUTTER AND OIL IN A FRYING PAN.
‘SAUTÉ’ (FRYING WITH VERY LITTLE FAT) THE GNOCCHI FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES UNTIL CRISPY ON THE OUTSIDE AND SOFT IN THE MIDDLE. 
SERVE:
EITHER COMBINE THE GNOCCHI AND TOMATO SAUCE AND SERVE OR SERVE THE GNOCCHI INTO BOWLS AND ADD A SPOONFUL OF SAUCE ON TOP.
GARNISH WITH PARMESAN, FRESH BASIL, SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE.
‘BUON APPETITO’! 

*HOMEMADE GNOCCHI IS NOT TOO DIFFICULT TO MAKE. IF YOU LIKE THIS RECIPE, LOOK UP HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN GNOCCHI NEXT TIME!

UPCYCLE IDEAS: 
TOMATO SAUCE IS SO VERSATILE. YOU CAN EAILY USE THIS SAUCE IN A LASAGNE, BOLOGNAISE, CURRY, PIZZA, FREEZE IT, OR MAKE A SOUP. 
TO MAKE A SOUP JUST ADD 1 CUP OF CHICKEN STOCK AND ½ CUP OF CREAM TO THE SAUCE AND YOU HAVE YOURSELF A DELICIOUS HOMEMADE TOMATO SOUP!

NUTRITIONAL HACK:
TRADITIONAL GNOCCHI IS MADE FROM WHEAT FLOUR, EGG AND MASHED POTATO. GNOCCHI IS MUCH LOWER IN CARBOHYDRATE THAN REGULAR PASTA, HOWEVER, IT HAS A HIGHER SODIUM CONTENT.