Baked Gnocchi with Meat Sauce - Sofia Foodie Recipes

Ingredients

For the meat sauce:
• Ground meat (beef or mixed) - 400 g (14 oz)
• Onion (finely chopped) — 1 medium (about 100 g or ¾ cup)
• Garlic (minced) - 2 cloves (1 tsp)
• Celery (finely chopped) - 1 stalk (about 50 g or ⅓ cup)
• Tomato sauce (or puree) — 400 ml (1¾ cups)
• Olive oil — 1 tbsp
• Salt and pepper — to taste
• Italian herbs (optional) — 1 tsp
For baking:
• Gnocchi (fresh or store-bought, can substitute with pasta) — 500 g (1.1 lbs)
• Mozzarella cheese (grated) - 150 g (1½ cups)

Cooking Instructions

Make the sauce:

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic, and celery for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add ground meat, cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking up clumps, until browned. Stir in tomato sauce, salt, pepper, and herbs. Simmer for 10 minutes on low heat.

Assemble the dish:

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). In a small baking dish (about 20x20 cm or 8x8 inches), spread the meat sauce evenly. Top with gnocchi (or pasta) and sprinkle with grated mozzarella.

Bake:

Cover with foil or parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes. Remove cover and bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese is golden.

Serve:

Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs (optional).

Chef's Note

Use store-bought gnocchi or pasta for a quicker prep. Pairs well with a side salad! Enjoy!