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    You are at:Home»Dairy-Free Recipes»Alisa's Favorite Dairy-Free Recipes»Gnocchi in a Dairy-Free Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

    Gnocchi in a Dairy-Free Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

    18
    By Alisa Fleming on July 16, 2016 Alisa's Favorite Dairy-Free Recipes, Dairy-Free Recipes, Entrees, In The News, Pasta, Sauces

    Today I’ve got a delicious shortcut pasta recipe to share with you that includes a dairy-free tomato basil cream sauce. It’s slightly rich yet nutritious and very versatile. It pairs well with any pasta, most summer vegetables, or your added protein of choice, if desired.

    Gnocchi in a Dairy-Free Tomato Basil Cream Sauce Recipe - vegan and allergy-friendly

    Gnocchi in a Dairy-Free Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

    As much as I love cooking from scratch, I’m certainly not immune to a little bit of convenience, particularly at lunch time. Tony and I work from home, which means I don’t have to pack lunches. This is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, we have a whole kitchen full of food at our disposal. But on the other hand, the lack of forced planning means we are often ill-prepared for a good meal. After all, most food still needs to be sliced, diced, cooked, and served. More often than not, noon sneaks up on us as we’re working away, and I’ve got nothing.

    My go-to meal for fast, healthy lunches has become big billowing salads. However, some days we want something with a little more comfort food appeal. So I turned to two of my favorite meal starters: jarred pasta sauce and gnocchi. Homemade is great, but I never feel like I’m cheating when I use good brands of marinara. Our current favorite is 365 Organic Marinara, which is also quite affordable! Plus, it cuts out a ton of work when our stomachs loudly proclaim that time is of the essence. And gnocchi is speedy, taking just 3 minutes to cook!

    For a delicious twist, this dairy-free tomato basil cream sauce is enriched with coconut cream and tossed with fresh, seasonal basil. It’s light and vegetarian, yet hearty enough to satisfy Tony’s finicky appetite. Coconut cream may sound like an odd flavor pairing, but the strong and acidic nature of the marinara dominates the scene. In fact, the two neutralize one another. The coconut cream helps to cut the acidity while the tomato overrides any coconut flavor or a wonderful, slightly sweet tomato basil cream sauce.

    Feeling Ambitious? You can certainly make your own marinara sauce. We like this recipe with sun-dried tomatoes, for something a little different. But you can also make your own dairy-free gnocchi! It’s fun and easier than you might think.

    Gnocchi in a Dairy-Free Tomato Basil Cream Sauce Recipe - vegan and allergy-friendly

    Special Diet Notes: Gnocchi in a Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

    By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, optionally gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, optionally soy-free, vegan / plant-based and vegetarian. Just be sure to choose a marinara that suits your dietary needs.

    5.0 from 1 reviews
    Gnocchi in a Tomato Basil Cream Sauce
     
    Print
    Prep time
    15 mins
    Cook time
    12 mins
    Total time
    27 mins
     
    You'll be surprised how seamlessly coconut cream goes with a rich marinara. The coconut flavor melts away and helps to tame the acidity of the sauce. Trust me, it's delicious!
    Author: Alisa Fleming
    Recipe type: Entree
    Cuisine: Italian
    Serves: 6 servings
    Ingredients
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 medium onion, halved and sliced
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 8 ounces white or cremini mushrooms, thickly sliced
    • 1 24-ounce jar dairy-free marinara sauce
    • ½ cup coconut cream*
    • Salt, to taste (I used a scant ¾ teaspoon, but start with ¼ teaspoon and work your way up)
    • Pepper, to taste (i used ½ teaspoon, but start with ¼ teaspoon and work your way up)
    • ½ cup (not packed) fresh basil chiffonade (basically twisted and sliced), plus extra for garnish if desired
    • 2 packages potato gnocchi (12 to 16 ounces each)**
    Instructions
    1. Heat the oil in a large skillet (I use non-stick) over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
    2. Reduce the heat to low, add the garlic and sauté, for about 1 minute.
    3. Add the mushrooms and sauté, for 2 minutes more.
    4. Stir in the marinara and coconut cream. Bring the heat up to medium for just a minute to get the sauce bubbling slightly, reduce it to low, and allow the sauce to simmer while you make the gnocchi.
    5. Make the gnocchi according to the package directions. Once the water is boiling, this step only takes about 3 minutes as gnocchi cooks very quickly. Divide the gnocchi between 4 to 6 bowls.
    6. Add salt and pepper to your sauce to taste. Turn off the heat, and stir in the basil. Pour the sauce equally over the bowls of gnocchi, and if desired, garnish with a few ribbons of basil.
    Notes
    Coconut Cream: You can buy coconut cream (not creme of coconut) or simply skin the cream from a can of chilled, full-fat coconut milk. I use So Delicious brand as it sets up into a nice thick cream.

    Gnocchi: Some brands of gnocchi do contain dairy in some form, but there are many dairy-free brands. Don Bruno Gnocchi is vegan and Bartenura Gnocchi is even kosher parve. Conte's Gnocchi is dairy-free and gluten-free.

    Zucchini Option: For some extra greenery, halve and slice 1 to 2 zucchini into ¼-inch half circles. Increase the oil to 1½ tablespoons and add the zucchini slices with the mushrooms.
    Nutrition Information
    Serving size: ¼ recipe (made with 24 ounces gnocchi) Calories: 527 Fat: 17g Saturated fat: 8g Carbohydrates: 82.4g Sugar: 18.2g Sodium: 1290mg Fiber: 10.7g Protein: 11.9g
    3.5.3229

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    Alisa Fleming
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    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

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    18 Comments

    1. Pingback: 45 Dairy Free Recipes - A How To Guide

    2. Julie @ Running in a Skirt on July 27, 2016 2:15 pm

      What a great quick meal! Gnocchi has always been one of my favorites. Such a great lunch.

      Reply
    3. Emily Kyle on July 27, 2016 5:02 am

      I totally agree that working from home can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to lunch time! This is the perfect solution, looks delicious!

      Reply
    4. Sonali- The Foodie Physician on July 26, 2016 1:20 pm

      I love gnocchi! How interesting to add coconut cream to the tomato sauce- I would never think to combine the two but it sounds like it makes for a wonderfully complex sauce!

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on July 26, 2016 3:05 pm

        It isn’t enough to impart any coconut flavor, but the very light sweetness does cut the acidity in the sauce nicely and gives it that creamy, full-bodied taste. Coconut cream isn’t for everything, but it works well here!

        Reply
    5. amanda -runtothefinish on July 26, 2016 10:43 am

      You know I have never loved gnochi but I think it’s because I’m not a pasta person…that being said I certainly won’t turn down a bowl this good!!! Love the idea of the coconut cream with the sauce!

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on July 26, 2016 3:07 pm

        Really?! You are perhaps the first person I’ve known of who wasn’t a pasta fan. That said, it’s the potato in gnocchi that gets me. I wonder if homemade would win you over? 🙂

        Reply
    6. Liv @ Healthy Liv on July 18, 2016 7:44 am

      I bet this is amazing! Gnocchi is great comfort food and coconut cream is a delicious addition to savory recipes. Just tweeted and YUMmed it.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on July 19, 2016 12:05 pm

        Thank you Liv!

        Reply
    7. Jenn on July 18, 2016 5:28 am

      This sounds delicious! I always have a jar of store-bought pasta sauce in my pantry. I nearly almost make homemade, but like you said, there are always those days when I am rushed and have nothing planned. Love the added coconut cream in there too!

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on July 19, 2016 12:05 pm

        Definitely, I’m the same way Jenn.

        Reply
    8. Michelle on July 17, 2016 7:06 pm

      I’m getting hungry just looking at that! I love gnocchi so much!! My husband’s grandmother taught us how to make it once, but usually I just buy it because it’s easier. 🙂

      On another note, I’ve never tried using coconut cream with my marinara and I am intrigued! I’ll have to try that.

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on July 17, 2016 7:21 pm

        Homemade gnocchi is at the top of my recipe bucket list. You’ve locked it in for me Michelle, I’m going to make it THIS year. Like you said, it’s just so easy to buy!

        I’m not liberal with coconut cream, but have tried it in different types of recipes to see where it works well. The acidity in tomato sauce overwhelms any coconut flavor (none is left!), while the light natural sweetness / sugars in the coconut actually does help to mellow the acidity a bit. In such a small amount, it really does work nicely here. I think you’d like it 🙂

        Reply
    9. Chrissa - Physical Kitchness on July 17, 2016 8:12 am

      Gnocchi is my comfort food!!!! I might have to make a batch of these and freeze it for when baby #2 comes. I think it would keep well, do you agree?

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on July 17, 2016 8:52 am

        Indeed, I think it would freeze well Chrissa – the sauce that is. The gnocchi cooks up in minutes anyway 🙂

        Reply
    10. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine on July 16, 2016 12:12 pm

      My favorite! Gnocchi is just the best for quick comfort food!

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on July 16, 2016 1:13 pm

        Isn’t it the best?! It cooks so quickly and is immensely filling.

        Reply
    11. Lily Kwan on August 25, 2014 1:17 am

      This recipe looks very tasty. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

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