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Cauliflower Gnocchi in tomato sauce on plate with parmesan and parsley. They are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

Cauliflower Gluten Free Gnocchi Recipe in Tomato Sauce

Soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Gnocchi are the perfect little vessel for a delicious sauce.  This Gluten Free Gnocchi Recipe is a healthier version to traditional gnocchi, because it's made with cauliflower!  But you don't even taste the cauliflower, only the soft pillowy goodness. Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and you have soft pillows of heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower #familydinner #Pasta #italianrecipes

Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword cauliflower, gluten free, gnocchi
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 5 servings
Calories 424 kcal
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

Gnocchi

  • 1 head Cauliflower about 4 cups florets
  • 1 Large russet potato
  • 3.5 cups Gluten-free all-purpose flour (such as Bob’s Red Mill)
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 2 Large eggs
  • Cornstarch (for surface for rolling out)

Tomato Sauce

  • 28 ounces San Marzano Tomatoes, whole peeled 
  • 2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 clove Garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Vegetable Base (such as Better than Bouillon brand)
  • 1 cup water (or replace water and vegetable base with 1 cup Vegetable broth)
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano (or Italian Seasoning Blend)
  • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated for garnish
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian Flat leaf Parsley for garnish

Instructions

Prep Ahead Steps

  1. Mince the garlic for the sauce and store in the fridge until ready to use. Cut your cauliflower into small florets.  Peel the potato and cut into small dices.  Immediately add the potato to a small pot and cover with cold water so it doesn’t brown.

    Cauliflower florets for Cauliflower Gnocchi, which are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

  2. Place the cauliflower florets in a large pot with about 2 inches of water. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot and steam until the cauliflower is fall-apart tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.

    Cauliflower florets in pot for Cauliflower Gnocchi, which are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

  3. While the cauliflower cooks, also bring the potatoes to a boil and then simmer until fork-tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain well.

    Cut raw potatoes in pot for Cauliflower Gnocchi, which are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

  4. Drain the cauliflower and then put it in a dish towel and squeeze any excess water out.

    Ringing out cooked cauliflower in dish towel for Cauliflower Gnocchi, which are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

  5. While the cauliflower and potato are still hot, mash them together until the mixture is smooth (use a potato ricer if you have one). Mix in the flour, Parmesan, salt and pepper.

    Mashed cauliflower and potato in dish for Cauliflower Gnocchi, which are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

  6. Make a well in the center of the mixture and add the eggs. Mix well to combine.

    Mixing egg in center of cauliflower gnocchi dough in dish for Cauliflower Gnocchi, which are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

  7. Separate dough into three-four equal parts and roll out into ½-3/4″ diameter ropes on a surface dusted lightly with cornstarch. Cut the tubes of dough into 1″ pieces.

    Cutting gnocchi on surface for cauliflower gnocchi. These Gnocchi are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

  8. Roll each piece across the tines of a fork to create ridges. Set aside on a cornstarch-dusted baking sheet.

    Rolling gnocchi on fork on for cauliflower gnocchi. These Gnocchi are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

Cook Gnocchi

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi to the pot and cook until they float to the surface, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain well.

    Transfering cooked cauliflower gnocchi from water to sheet pan. These Gnocchi are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

Make the Tomato Sauce

  1. Add the olive oil and the minced garlic and stir to combine and cook for 1 minute. Add the vegetable base and water or Broth and stir.

  2. Add the tomatoes and break them up with a spatula.  Mix to combine.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  TIP: If you do not have a cover for your skillet, you can use a sheet pan or just aluminum foil.

  3. Add your cooked gnocchi to the tomato sauce and stir to combine. Sprinkle parmesan and parsley over top and enjoy!

    Cauliflower Gnocchi in tomato sauce on plate with parmesan and parsley. They are soft, silky, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth! Made with cauliflower, they're a healthier version to traditional gnocchi! Add my simple Garlic Butter Sauce or Tomato Sauce and they are heaven.  #dinnerideas #gnocchi #cauliflower

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  1. Russet Potatoes are best for gnocchi as the potato starch helps to keep these gnocchi held together.
  2. This Gluten Free Gnocchi Recipe is Vegetarian. However, because there are eggs and cheese in the recipe, this is not considered vegan.
  3. You can store the uncooked gnocchi in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Once you cook them, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. After cooked, you will want to toss them in a sauce or a drizzle of olive oil so they do not stick together.
  4. You can bake these Gluten Free gnocchi on a sheet pan in the oven. To do so, toss them in a little olive oil and then spread out on a sheet pan. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 375 F degrees.
  5. To freeze the gnocchi before cooking, spread them out on a sheet pan so the gnocchi are not touching. Flash freeze the gnocchi on the sheet pan in the freezer for 1-2 hours. Then transfer the frozen uncooked gnocchi to an airtight container. You can store in the freezer for up to 4 months.