Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (2024)

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This delicious Cauliflower Gnocchi is made with cauliflower instead of traditional potatoes. No need for a Trader Joe’s run – make them from scratch with just three ingredients!

Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (1)
Cauliflower Gnocchi

Is there anything cauliflower can’t do? I use it as a low-carb alternative to make low-carb rice, low-carb potato salad, cauliflower mashed potatoes, and low-carb macaroni and cheese. And here, it’s amazing as gnocchi topped with marinara and Parmesan cheese. This healthy cauliflower gnocchi is lower in carbs and calories than traditional gnocchi and a great way to eat more cauliflower! This super easy recipe calls for just cauliflower, white whole wheat flour, and salt. If you want to try classic potato gnocchi, check out my Gnocchi with Grilled Chicken in Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.

Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (2)

This recipe is slightly adapted from Joy Bauer’s Superfood!: 150 Recipes for Eternal Youth cookbook (affil link), but with less flour. Her cookbook includes indulgent foods like Buffalo wings, deep-dish pan pizza, salted caramel milkshakes, etc while boosting immunity. This recipe has less flour than her original recipe, but it worked perfect, the final product was tender, pillowy gnocchi that even my cauliflower-hating husband approved of! I even tested this with gluten-free flour (Cup4cup) and had great success.

The trick to cooking cauliflower gnocchi for best results is to pan-fry them with a little olive oil spray (or cook them in the air fryer). Boiling them like traditional gnocchi wouldn’t be as good. Then, simply add them to your favorite sauce and enjoy.

Sauce Variations:

You can use any type of pasta sauce on your gnocchi. Below are some suggestions.

  • Pesto
  • Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
  • Butter and Sage
  • Vodka Sauce
  • Marinara Sauce

How to Freeze Cauliflower Gnocchi

I have made theses gnocchi several times and even froze a batch. To freeze, flash freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet and then transfer to a zip-lock bag. Let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator when you are ready to cook.

Refrigerate cooked gnocchi for up to four days. Reheat in a skillet or microwave.

Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (3)Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (4)Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (5)

More Cauliflower Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Cauliflower Rice (Arancini) Balls
  • Skillet Taco Cauliflower Rice
  • Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Chowder
  • Cauliflower Rice Chicken Biryani
  • Cauliflower Nuggets

Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (6)

Cauliflower Gnocchi

2

Cals:228

Protein:12

Carbs:42.6

Fat:2

This delicious Cauliflower Gnocchi is made with cauliflower instead of traditional potatoes. No need for a Trader Joe’s run – make them from scratch with just three ingredients!

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American, Italian

Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (7)

Prep: 30 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 50 minutes mins

Print Rate Pin SaveWW Points

Yield: 4 servings

Serving Size: 1 generous cup (26 pieces 1/4 cup sauce)

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds cauliflower florets, 12 heaping cups from 2 medium heads
  • 1 cup white whole wheat flour, or all purpose or gluten-free flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
  • olive oil spray
  • 2 cups marinara sauce, jarred or homemade
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for topping, optional
  • basil, optional for serving

Instructions

  • Place the cauliflower in a large pot, cover with water (make sure veggies are submerged), and bring to a boil.

    Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (8)

  • Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 22 minutes, until the cauliflower is very soft. Drain and set aside to cool.

  • Once cooled, in batches put 1/3 to 1/2 of the cauliflower in a dish towel and squeeze out as much excess water as possible then place in a large bowl. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower until all of it is well drained and squeezed of all liquid so the dough isn’t too sticky.

    Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (9)

  • Add the flour and salt into the bowl with the mashed cauliflower and mix with a fork at first, then using your hands to fold and squeeze everything together into a dough.

  • Dust a work surface with flour, then separate the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 2 1/2 ounces each. One at a time, roll each ball into a ½-inch-thick rope 10 inches long and set aside. Continue until all the dough is used up.

    Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (10)

  • Next, cut each rope into 13 equal sized (gnocchi-like) pieces, slightly nudging the pieces apart so they’re not touching. You should get about 108 pieces total. If at any point the dough becomes too sticky to work with, add flour to your hands.

    Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (11)

  • In two batches, liberally mist a large a skillet with nonstick oil spray and warm over medium heat. Place half of the gnocchi on the hot skillet (if the pieces stick together just slice them apart in the skillet using the spatula). Do not overcrowd the pan; you’ll need to cook the gnocchi in two batches.

  • Let the gnocchi sit in the hot pan undisturbed for 2 minutes, then gently flip using a spoon or tongs, being careful not to squish them. Sprinkle salt over the tops and continue to cook for another 2 to 4 minutes or until desired doneness.

    Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (12)

  • Set aside and repeat with remaining gnocchi, then add everything back to the skillet and pour the marinara over everything, give a stir and serve topped with optional grated cheese.

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 generous cup (26 pieces 1/4 cup sauce), Calories: 228 kcal, Carbohydrates: 42.6 g, Protein: 12 g, Fat: 2 g, Sodium: 652 mg, Fiber: 12.5 g, Sugar: 11 g

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Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe - Skinnytaste (2024)

FAQs

Is cauliflower gnocchi healthy for weight loss? ›

Yes, cauliflower gnocchi can be a healthier choice because it uses a vegetable that's less starchy than potatoes, says Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, Nutrition Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "Non-starchy veggies are lower in carbs but often higher in fiber, which can help you stay fuller, longer," she says.

What should you not do when making gnocchi? ›

Don't overwork the dough: When making gnocchi dough, it's important not to overwork it. Overworking the dough can make the gnocchi tough and chewy. Mix the ingredients together just until the dough comes together, and then stop mixing! You're not kneading bread here.

How do you cook gnocchi so it is not mushy? ›

When cool enough to handle, scrape off the skins and push the potato through a ricer or food mill, then, while still warm, start working your dough on a floured work surface. (Here, Davies offers up another tip to fight the mush: “Spread out the mash to cool; the escaping steam will further take away any moisture.”)

What are Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi made from? ›

Gnocchi is one of my very favorite foods and traditionally it's a soft dough made from potatoes, flour and eggs that's cut into delicious little dumplings then boiled or pan-fried. Trader Joe's version trades potatoes for cauliflower, all-purpose flour (not GF) for cassava flour (GF), and egg for, well, no egg.

Can I eat gnocchi and lose weight? ›

Due to the smaller and denser nature of gnocchi, it is more likely that you will end up eating bigger portions than if you chose regular pasta. Although all foods can be part of a healthy diet in moderation, if you are trying to lose weight opt for other options than gnocchi or pasta.

Is gnocchi more unhealthy than pasta? ›

Nutritional Value

Believe it or not, regular pasta is actually more carb-heavy than gnocchi, coming in at around 2 times the amount of carbs per serving. Gnocchi is also notorious for having a lot more sodium, with over 200 grams of it per serving. Regular pasta doesn't have nearly as high of a sodium content.

Why is gnocchi so expensive? ›

does take a bit of time to make, not because the. ingredients are expensive. They're potatoes.

Is gnocchi easy on the stomach? ›

The famous pasta is usually made from potatoes, but could also be prepared from breadcrumbs, risotto, or even just flour. Many people argue that the potato-made gnocchi is a bit easier on the digestive system and all around the most delicious.

Why put egg in gnocchi? ›

Egg yolk added to your gnocchi dough helps improve texture, and keep it together while cooking. Gnocchi is traditionally made with eggs in Veneto and no eggs in Piedmont, the two Northern Italian regions famous for gnocchi. We vote for egg yolks at the rate of 1 per (500g) 1 lb of uncooked potatoes used.

Why is my gnocchi gummy after cooking? ›

It is very easy to add too much flour to gnocchi dough, which can make these dumplings glutinous, gummy, and sticky. If you dump all of the flour into your gnocchi dough at once, you won't have the same texture as a gnocchi that has just enough flour to bring it together.

Is it better to boil or fry gnocchi? ›

The downside is that boiling can result in gummy, waterlogged gnocchi if you cook them too long. This is more of an issue when boiling store-bought gnocchi than with homemade ones. Frying gnocchi in a little butter or oil takes more effort, and the dumplings will be crisp on the outside, chewy and soft on the inside.

What are the best potatoes for gnocchi? ›

Yukon Gold Potatoes are THE BEST potatoes for homemade gnocchi. They're dense, creamy, semi-waxy and do not retain too much moisture (if you love Yukon's for mashed potatoes, they make exquisite gnocchi).

How healthy is cauliflower gnocchi? ›

Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi Nutrition

Compared with traditional potato gnocchi, Trader Joe's frozen cauliflower gnocchi shaves off almost 90 calories per cup (140 vs. 227) and has less than half the carbs (22 vs. 48) and 2 grams more fiber (6 grams).

How do you know when cauliflower gnocchi is done? ›

To sauté: Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and add 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil. Add the gnocchi in a single layer (you may need to do two batches!) and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes per side.

Why is my cauliflower gnocchi mushy? ›

I found that adding in more flour or starch makes the gnocchi more firm so if your results are soggy - add more of the flour/starch in small equal amounts and taste test again.

Is cauliflower pasta good for losing weight? ›

Cauliflower has several properties that may help with weight loss. First, it is low in calories with only 27 calories per cup (107 g), so you can eat a lot of it without significantly increasing your calorie intake ( 1 ). It can also serve as a low calorie substitute for high calorie foods, such as rice and flour.

Is Cauliflower pasta good for weight loss? ›

In the health food space, cauliflower is a popular ingredient and for good reason. It is a non-starchy vegetable that provides a myriad of health benefits, such as fiber for weight loss, choline for brain acuity, and antioxidants to help prevent cancer.

Can we eat cauliflower during weight loss? ›

Not only is it loaded with fibre, But it is also very rich in vitamin C, K and B6. Another thing it is best known for is its potential to serve as a low-calorie substitute for high-calorie foods such as rice. This makes cauliflower a great food for weight loss.

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