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Gnocchi Bolognese

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Theurbenlife.com

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Gnocchi Bolognese

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 stalks celerydiced

1 carrotdiced

1 yellow oniondiced

1 lb ground beef

1 tbsp Italian seasoning

2 cloves garlicminced

2 tablespoons tomato paste

28 ounces crushed tomatoes

1 cup water or stock

2 bay leaves

1 tsp red pepper flakescrushed

16 ounces gnocchi

Salt and pepperto taste

Fresh basil

Instructions

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Instructions

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large dutch oven or skillet. Add diced celery, carrot, and onion. Cook until veggies are soft tender.

Add ground beef and let cook, breaking it apart until fully browned. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant.

Stir in tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, water or stock, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, bring a large stock pot filled with water to a boil. Cook gnocchi according to package directions, about 2 minutes. Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy water then drain.

Add cooked gnocchi to bolognese sauce and stream in reserved water as needed if the mixture is too thick. Cook for an addition minute or so, taste and adjust seasoning, if needed. Serve immediately garnished with fresh basil.

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Brown the Meat Properly 🥘
Don't stir the ground beef immediately after adding to the hot oil—let it sit for 2-3 minutes to develop a caramelized crust that builds deep, rich flavor in your bolognese sauce.
Build Your Soffritto Base 🧅
Cook the diced carrot, celery, and onion together for 4-5 minutes before adding the meat to create an aromatic foundation that adds natural sweetness and complexity to your sauce.
Simmer Low and Slow 🍅
After combining all sauce ingredients, reduce heat to low and let simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes—this allows flavors to meld and excess moisture to evaporate for a richer, more concentrated bolognese.
Salt Your Gnocchi Water Generously 🧂
Season your gnocchi cooking water like pasta water (should taste like the sea) so the gnocchi absorbs seasoning, eliminating the need for extra salt and preventing bland, flat-tasting dumplings.
Add Fresh Basil at the End ✨
Tear fresh basil and stir it in just before serving to preserve its delicate oils and bright flavor—avoid cooking basil into the sauce where it becomes bitter and loses its aromatic quality.