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A comforting dish featuring pillowy gnocchi in a rich meat bolognese sauce topped with melted mature cheddar cheese and baked until golden and bubbly.

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 slices of back bacon, fat removed, chopped
  • 3 shallots, finely diced
  • 1 carrot, finely diced
  • 2 small stalks of celery, finely diced
  • 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 400g (14oz) extra lean beef mince (ground beef)
  • 1/2 tablespoon dried mixed herbs
  • 400g (14oz) chopped tomatoes, canned
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste (puree)
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sweetener or sugar (optional)
  • 240ml (1 cup) chicken or beef stock
  • 500g (17.5oz) pack of gnocchi
  • 120g (4.2oz) mature cheddar, grated
  • Olive oil cooking spray
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Few fresh basil leaves, torn

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Spray a frying pan with olive oil and fry chopped bacon over medium-high heat until golden; remove and set aside.
  3. In the same pan, sauté shallots, carrot, and celery until softened, adding a splash of water or stock if sticks.
  4. Add crushed garlic and ground beef; cook until beef is browned, breaking it up.
  5. Return bacon to the pan and stir in dried mixed herbs, chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, optional sweetener, stock, and balsamic vinegar.
  6. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes until sauce is rich and thickened.
  7. Stir in gnocchi and simmer 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until gnocchi is cooked; add more stock if absorbed too much liquid.
  8. Season sauce with salt and black pepper to taste.
  9. Transfer gnocchi and sauce to a baking dish and top evenly with grated cheddar or cheese blend.
  10. Bake at 375°F (190°C) until bubbling and cheese is golden, about 20–25 minutes; optionally broil 2–4 minutes to brown the top.
  11. Let rest a few minutes, scatter torn fresh basil, and serve immediately.

Notes

If the gnocchi absorbs too much sauce, add extra stock while simmering., For extra flavor, add a pinch of chili flakes or fresh herbs like oregano or thyme., Use any cheese you prefer, mature cheddar gives a nice sharpness., Dish can be made ahead and stored in the fridge up to 2 days before baking.

  • Author: Laura
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Italian-inspired

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 420
  • Fat: 18g
  • Carbohydrates: 42g
  • Protein: 24g