Gnocchi with Spinach in Parmesan Cream Sauce

Let's say one night you're having meatloaf.  Or a meat pie.  Or hamburgers.  Or cabbage rolls.  And you need a different side than the regular old mashed potatoes, or French fries, or potato salad, or mac and cheese.

I would say that you should absolutely make this Gnocchi with Spinach in Parmesan Cream Sauce.  It's kind of like mac and cheese, except for totally mature and grown-up like.

It's creamy, and rich, and extra good for you cause, spinach.

Never you mind about the cream.

And don't worry about the ridiculously long name.  It's actually super quick to put together!

In a pot over medium heat, melt the butter and add the garlic - cooking until fragrant.

Then add in the flour.  And cook until golden.

Slowly whisk in the cream.

While you're waiting for the cream to thicken, cook the gnocchi according to package directions.

Once the gnocchi is cooked and drained, toss into a hot pan with a little melted butter.  Cooking, stirring often to brown and caramelize the gnocchi.

Once the cream mixture has thickened, stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Back to the gnocchi.  Toss the spinach into the pan and stir it around until its wilted.

Then stir the gnocchi and spinach into the pot with the cream sauce.

Stir in some cooked, chopped bacon.

Serve immediately.

Try not to eat it all by yourself.

I completely loved this.  I wanted to dive headfirst in the sauce.  I even loved the spinach - again, the sauce.  

The sauce, the spinach, the bacon, the gnocchi.  It all played together beautifully. 

You could even throw some sun-dried tomatoes in there.  Or use cheese tortellini instead of gnocchi if your heart so desired.

And I don't want to hear any complaining about how you "don't like" gnocchi.  You're GOING to like it after this!

Gnocchi with Spinach in Parmesan Cream Sauce

2 slices bacon

1 pound potato gnocchi

1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

1 clove garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons all purpose flour

1 1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

5 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

2 cups packed baby spinach

1. In a medium sized pot over medium heat, melt the butter.  Add the garlic, cooking until fragrant.
2. Whisk in the flour and cook until slightly golden.
3. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream.  Add the salt.  Cook until slightly thickened.  Stir in the Parmesan cheese.  Cook until thickened, stirring occasionally.
4. Cook gnocchi according to package directions and drain.
5. In a large frying pan, cook bacon to desired crispiness and remove.  Leave the bacon drippings in the pan.  Add the gnocchi and fry until golden and crisp.  
6. Stir the spinach into the gnocchi and cook until the spinach has wilted. 
7. Transfer the gnocchi and spinach into the cream sauce and stir until all the gnocchi are coated.
8. Stir in the bacon and serve immediately.

Source:  Baked by Rachel