In this easy vegetarian recipe, whole wheat gnocchi is bathed in a healthy roasted red pepper sauce. 201 calories and 6 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
There is something magical about the simplicity of a sauce made almost entirely of vegetables. Clean, pure, tasting of nothing but the actual vegetable. While tomato sauce often gets top billing in the sauce world, particularly when you’re talking pasta, silky purées of roasted red peppers deserve their day in the sun.
Roasting bell peppers is one of the first things I mastered in the kitchen, after flipping through endless cookbooks and magazines to figure out the best way to proceed, particularly without the benefit of a gas range. The process, which I show in How to: Roast a Bell Pepper, is surprisingly simple, and results in peppers that embody the flavor and smokiness that I imagine they would take on if they grew in soil neighboring a fire pit.
Since roasted peppers are such a powerful and memorable ingredient in sandwiches, snacks, salads, soups and pastas (like this appetizer, this pasta, this panini and this soup recipe), I often roast several peppers at a time. After peeling and slicing the peppers, I store them in airtight containers with olive oil for up to a week. Before using them, I give them a quick rinse to wash off the extra olive oil.
When you have a good base ingredient, such as roasted peppers, you need little else to turn out a vibrant, flavorful sauce – vegetable broth to make it sauce-like, a touch of acid (balsamic vinegar in this case) to wake up the taste buds, a palmful of minced fresh parsley and salt and pepper (of course!)
I choose to serve the sauce with gnocchi (I use this whole wheat version)
when I’m in a hurry), but it works just as well with pasta or even spooned over cooked fish or chicken.
Other healthy vegetarian dinner recipes:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Hearty Mushroom, Farro & Ginger Soup
Cookin’ Canuck’s Vegetarian Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
The Lemon Bowl’s Asparagus Pasta Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing
Cookie+Kate’s Spiced Vegan Lentil Soup
Ambitious’ Kitchen’s Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad with Ginger Peanut Dressing
Whole Wheat Gnocchi with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
In this easy vegetarian recipe, whole wheat gnocchi is bathed in a healthy roasted red pepper sauce. 201 calories and 6 Weight Watchers Freestyle SP
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
- 3 roasted red peppers (6 halves) (see How to Roast a Bell Pepper)
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 lb. gnocchi (such as whole wheat)
- 1/4 cup minced flat-leaf parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired
Directions
- Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat.
- Add the onions and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, salt and pepper, and cook for 1 minute.
- Place the roasted red peppers in the bowl of a food processor. Add the onion mixture, vegetable broth and balsamic vinegar. Puree until the mixture is smooth. Transfer the sauce to the large skillet and heat over medium heat.
- Cook the gnocchi according to package directions. Drain and add the gnocchi to the sauce, along with the parsley. Stir to combine. Serve with Parmesan cheese and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
Recipe Notes
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Liz+@+Floating+Kitchen says
Apr 20, 2015 at 9:11 amThe color of this sauce is just awesome! I love roasted red pepper sauce and agree that it’s totally underrated. Can’t wait to try this, Dara!
Kristi Rimkus says
Apr 20, 2015 at 9:00 pmMy hubby loves gnocchi. Trader Joe’s sells the whole wheat version, along with organic red peppers. This dish will make him a happy camper for sure.
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
Apr 21, 2015 at 6:10 amI love the flavor of roasted red peppers alone so I can imagine they taste amazing in this sauce! I might even forgo the gnocchi and just eat it with a spoon. 😉
bev @ bevcooks says
Apr 21, 2015 at 7:33 amThiiiiiis loooooks soooo piiiiimp.
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
Apr 21, 2015 at 1:28 pmWhole wheat gnocchi?! I’ve never seen that! It sounds and look amazing, as does this sauce recipe. Love it! And your food processor shots are way too pretty. I don’t understand how you do it.
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
Apr 21, 2015 at 1:43 pmOmg.. I love this so much Dara!! I am so excited for pepper season too where I hoard peppers and roast them!!
Carol at Wild Goose Mama says
Apr 21, 2015 at 2:57 pmI like your word choice that the sauce ‘bathed’ the gnocchi. Maybe because I love my baths myself? Lol. Delicious veggie sauce. I agree. Sauce doesn’t have to have meat in order to be tasty.
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
Apr 21, 2015 at 5:27 pmGnocchi is my favorite! I love everything about this dish!
Ginny McMeans says
Apr 21, 2015 at 8:49 pmYou are right! That sauce is comforting and my thoughts are that it is also amazingly delicious sounding. What a fantastic dinner!
Vanessa @ VeganFamilyRecipes.com says
Apr 22, 2015 at 5:42 amHi Dara, I think I should figured out what I’m making for dinner! I love roasted red bell peppers and you are so right that it needs very little to make it taste even better. I’ll have to see where I can get a hold of some whole wheat gnocci. Looks delicious! Pinning 🙂
Martha @ A Family Feast says
Apr 22, 2015 at 6:37 amI’ve been waiting anxiously for this recipe Dara!! This looks fantastic!
Angie says
Apr 22, 2015 at 7:49 amI’ve got to try some whole wheat gnocchi. This looks so good for a busy weeknight, yum!
Heather / girlichef says
Apr 22, 2015 at 6:13 pmI love the deep flavor of roasted red peppers, I just know this tastes amazing. And I think I need to try ww gnocchi…I don’t think I’ve seen it before!
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
Apr 22, 2015 at 7:04 pmI absolutely adore real roasted red peppers. What a great twist on pasta sauce. I can’t wait for peppers to be in season so that I can try this recipe.
Susan says
Apr 22, 2015 at 8:40 pmJust a gorgeous sauce! What a perfect way to treat a big bowl full of gnocchi.
Nutmeg Nanny says
Apr 22, 2015 at 10:11 pmThis is such a rich and hearty looking sauce. I have never had whole wheat gnocchi but this must change!
claire @the realistic nutritionist says
Apr 23, 2015 at 1:54 pmOh my gosh this looks YUM.
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
Apr 23, 2015 at 2:07 pmMy dad could literally eat red peppers ever single day. What an amazing idea to use them as the base of the sauce!
serwis says
Apr 24, 2015 at 4:12 amI love red pepper in every way and this recipe with gnocchi and red pepper sauce must be delicious. I will definitely try this.
Amanda @ The Kitcheneer says
Apr 27, 2015 at 2:25 pmThis looks AHMAZING! I am a huge fan of gnocchi and roasted red peppers! This dish seems like the perfect marriage of both! Pinning!