Description
A creamy and flavorful baked feta gnocchi recipe featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and a tangy block of baked feta cheese, combined with tender cooked gnocchi. This dish is easy to prepare, perfectly balanced with fresh garlic and basil, and ideal for a comforting Italian-inspired meal.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 pints (682g) cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 8oz (227g) block feta cheese
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup chopped basil leaves, plus more for garnish
- 1 ½ pounds (750g) packaged gnocchi (approximately 5 ½ cups)
- Boiling salted water (for cooking gnocchi)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 425ºF to prepare for roasting the tomatoes and feta.
- Prepare baking dish: Place 2 pints of cherry tomatoes into a large 9×13 inch baking dish. Drizzle with ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, then sprinkle with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper. Toss to coat the tomatoes evenly with oil and seasonings.
- Add the feta: Clear a space in the center of the tomatoes and place the entire 8 oz block of feta cheese there.
- Bake the mixture: Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the feta is soft and the tomatoes are bubbly and beginning to burst.
- Cook the gnocchi: When 10-15 minutes of baking remain, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook 3-5 minutes, until they float to the surface. Drain the gnocchi in a colander.
- Optional broiling step: If your baking dish is broiler safe, switch the oven to broil and broil the feta and tomatoes for 2-3 minutes until bubbly and slightly browned. Watch closely to avoid burning.
- Mix garlic and basil: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Add 3 cloves minced garlic and ¼ cup chopped fresh basil to the baked feta and tomatoes. Stir with a spoon or spatula, mashing the feta and tomatoes together into a chunky, creamy sauce.
- Combine with gnocchi: Add the cooked gnocchi into the sauce and toss gently to coat well.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh basil if desired for a fragrant finish.
Notes
- Broiling step is optional but adds a lovely caramelized flavor; only do if baking dish is broiler safe.
- Using fresh garlic and basil enhances the freshness of the dish.
- For a vegan version, substitute feta with appropriate vegan cheese alternative and use vegan gnocchi.
- Gnocchi cook quickly, so watch for them to float as an indicator they are done.
- Leftover baked feta gnocchi can be refrigerated up to 2 days and reheated gently.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
