Gnocchi Mac and Cheese
There is nothing more comforting than a sauce made of mostly cheese. We lighten things up for you and your family, by using cauliflower as a base rather than using milk, butter, or even cream for this sauce. Using a nice smoky bacon helps add a unique flavour to the dish and will bring everyone to the table when that sweet smell runs through the house. Bacon is optional if you are a vegetarian.
Your family will be singing your praises after they finish this amazing healthy-ish cheese sauce. In this recipe you can use whatever cheese you’d like, it is YOUR sauce after all. The most common cheeses are Cheddar, White Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, Swiss, Provolone, or Gorgonzola.
You will want to finish the sauce with a nice Parmesan or Pecorino Romano for great flavor.
Don’t be afraid of the gnocchi, it is even easier then noodles. Dump package of gnocchi’s into boiling water, when they float to the top cook for one to two minutes, and strain. That is IT!!
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon,
- 1 package of gnocchi,
- ¼ head of cauliflower,
- 1 litre vegetable stock (or chicken),
- 1 onion,
- 3 cups of your favourite cheese – shredded,
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Pre-heat broil to 550°F on your oven.
- Cut onion into small dices, reserve half for bacon mixture and half for cauliflower mixture.
- Cut bacon into chunks and cook to ¾ doneness, add onions, and continue cooking until finished.
- Set bacon and onions aside.
- Cut cauliflower into smaller pieces and place in a pot with the remaining onions and salt and pepper.
- Add stock to cauliflower until covered with liquid, and boil.
- When cauliflower is soft, blend in a blender.
- Add cheese, and blend some more. Keep some cheese aside to top the dish.
- Taste, season, taste.
- Cook Gnocchi as directed on package.
- When the gnocchi is finished cooking and strained, add the bacon mixture to the Gnocchi, then add the cheese sauce.
- Mix it all up and put it oven ready casserole dish.
- Top with leftover cheese, and broil in the oven until cheese is melted and baked.
- Serve, eat well, and be happy.
Notes
If you are forgoing bacon you can add the smoke flavour by using liquid smoke
You can also substitute mushrooms for bacon, two cups thinly sliced.
Find it online: https://www.cmfmag.ca/galley/gnocchi-mac-and-cheese/