Pesto gnocchi with pan fried courgettes

Rich and delicious but won't leave you with a heavy feeling in your tummy! (photo by Ashley)
Rich and delicious but won’t leave you with a heavy feeling in your tummy! (photo by Ashley)

This is a ridiculously easy but very tasty meal. I love gnocchi – it’s a super alternative to ordinary pasta as I find it doesn’t leave me feeling too full or bloated afterwards. Gnocchi is slightly lower in calories than tortellini, so I can easily convince myself it’s a healthy alternative! For this meal, I bulk out the gnocchi by adding a lot of courgettes, so you need less of the carbs. It makes a light but very rich meal, so you have all the benefits of something indulgent without that heavy feeling in your tummy afterwards.

For three people, you need:

  • 500g fresh gnocchi (the kind that cooks in 2 mins)
  • 3 dessert spoons of green pesto
  • 3 dessert spoons of creme fraiche (I use half fat)
  • 6 rashers of smoked bacon (streaky is wonderful in this but you can use back if you want to be a tad healthier)
  • 3 medium courgettes
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • Salt and pepper
  • Oil (I use rapeseed)
  • Strong cheddar
  1. First of all, cook your bacon. I like to oven cook my bacon on 200°c as it gives a really nice all over colour and flavour. Simply arrange on a grill pan and pop in the oven for 15-20 mins. Turn them over half way through and keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t burn. If you don’t want to oven cook it, then grill it or fry it.
  2. Next, cut your courgettes in half lengthways and dice so you end up with lots of semi circles. Finely chop your garlic.
  3. Pour a very small amount of oil into a large frying pan, and add the courgettes and garlic. Cook on a high heat, stirring very regularly so that the courgettes get slight colouring all over. When cooked, set aside in the pan.
  4. When your bacon is cooked and crisp, cut it up into pieces using tongs and kitchen scissors. Set aside on a piece of kitchen roll on top of a plate to catch any excess fat.
  5. Next, bring a pan of water to the boil and then add the gnocchi. It only takes 2 mins to cook, so be ready with your creme fraiche and pesto.
  6. When the gnocchi is cooked, drain immediately and place back on the hob, making sure the heat is low. Season, then add the pesto and creme fraiche and carefully stir through until it’s well mixed. Now add the bacon and all of the courgettes. Mix through with a wooden spoon while it’s still on the heat and stir until it’s well combined.
  7. Serve on plates and grate a small sprinkling of cheddar over the top.

Enjoy!

9 Responses

  1. Hmmm… thinking about a healthier alternative…
     
    Now I haven’t tried this so I don’t know if it would work but I wonder how making your own gnocchi using something like sweet potato/butternut squash would work. That would definitely be better for you that the normal store bought. You could then do it with courgettes, lemon, and creme fraiche (taking out the pesto and bacon – both of which are not on the diet list, sadly)

    • Yeah that would be nice. I’ve never actually made gnocchi from scratch though people do tell me it isn’t toooo difficult! Worth a try I say – then let me know how it goes? :)

  2. I love the idea of this but I’m not a huge fan of pesto, any ideas for an alternative that would work or would the creme fraiche be okay on its own?

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