Delicious Fluffy Cauliflower Gnocchi Recipe (2024)

Make your own fluffy cauliflower gnocchi recipe with this simple recipe tutorial that is so easy even a novice home chef can make this easily! A simple process creates pillow-soft pasta that cooks to a golden brown and is packed with incredible flavor. Cauliflower is the base for this recipe and gives a unique flavor that is subtle and pairs well with many flavors on your menu!

Cauliflower Gnocchi

Gnocchi is perhaps one of my favorite things to make. There is just something about the thick but light little dough balls that delights me. Toothsome is a great word to describe this recipe once cooked and served. Every bite has just enough crust on the outside to contrast with the soft interior to make your tastebuds happy.

If you like homemade pasta, you may also enjoy my version of homemade egg noodles. It's a great choice that has simple steps and is a perfect addition to many of your favorite meals. Whip up a batch and see how easy it is to make homemade pasta in your own kitchen. No fancy tools needed!

Is Cauliflower Gnocchi Actually Healthy?

What is healthy is truly up to the individual. Cauliflower is a vegetable that is chock full of fiber and thus can be an excellent addition to your meal plan and considered healthy. Made into pasta like this it is a reasonable addition to your menu and is healthier than some options, but in moderation, everything can fit into your menu.

Focus more on the flavor of this recipe is choosing if it fits your menu needs. With a simple mild pasta that accepts whatever you add as flavor, it's easy to make healthy in your meal plan with minor adjustments.

Is Cauliflower Gnocchi Keto-Friendly?

No. This recipe is not keto-friendly as shown. Since it does include all-purpose flour, it is not considered a low-carbohydrate food. However, if you use a low-carb flour such as almond flour, you could make this keto-friendly. Having not tested that option, I cannot tell if it would result in a similar texture and flavor. So, do so with caution.

How to Serve Cauliflower Gnocchi

This recipe includes a simple serving suggestion involving boiling then pan-frying in butter with thyme and lemon. It's a very simple preparation that adds texture to the gnocchi and tons of flavor. It is, however, not the only thing you can do to serve gnocchi. Below are some great ideas that easily fit the texture and flavor of this pasta.

• Boil then pan-fry and coat with this all purpose tomato pasta sauce.
• Add as a side dish to herbed sheet pan chicken thighs or this garlic and herb baked chicken breast recipe.
• Top with Alfredo sauce, pesto sauce, or a bolognese sauce.
• Toss with ricotta, spinach, and roasted garlic.

How to Season Cauliflower Gnocchi

When seasoning cauliflower, I used a simple combination of salt in the dough with Parmesan. The seasoning comes more from the cooking process, but you can also season the gnocchi in the dough. Below are some herbs and spices that go well with gnocchi and can be added in small amounts when making the dough or to add to the butter when cooking.

• Basil, sage, rosemary, oregano, parsley, cilantro, dill, or even bay leaves.
• Curry powder, turmeric, garam masala, sumac, or coriander.
• Taco seasoning, chili powder, red chili flakes, or cayenne.
• Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, or seasoned salts.

Can Cauliflower Gnocchi Be Frozen?

Yes! If you want to make this in larger batches, you can easily freeze it for future use. This is one of the best things about making pasta, it is so versatile! When freezing gnocchi, I recommend laying on a flat surface like a parchment-lined baking sheet to flash freeze. Place, covered, in the freezer for 2 hours to harden, then remove from the tray and place into a dated and labeled storage container or Ziploc bag to freeze. This helps them to not stick to each other.

When ready to serve, just drop into boiling water for 5-6 minutes and cook as you normally would in butter with the seasonings you choose. Cauliflower gnocchi is good for up to 4 months in the freezer.

Ingredients

• Cauliflower
• All-purpose flour
• Egg
• Salt
• Parmesan
• Butter
• Thyme
• Lemon

Handy Kitchen Tools

• Steamer basket
• Food processor
• Cheesecloth or Ricer
• Mixing bowl
• Gnocchi roller
• Large skillet
• Microplane or Zester

How to make Homemade Cauliflower Gnocchi

Steam cauliflower florets for 10 minutes until tender. Set aside to cool.

Drain excess liquid, then using a ricer or cheesecloth, squeeze out as much liquid as possible.

In a large bowl, mash the cauliflower well, then combine with cheese, flour, salt, and egg and mix until a dough begins to form. Using a food processor makes this easier to manage.

Dust a clean work surface with a generous amount of flour, then roll the dough into a log.

Cut the log into two sections.

Roll each section into a rope about 1" in diameter.

Cut into small pieces 1" to 1 ½" wide.

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the gnocchi for 3-4 minutes then drain.

In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat, then add in the gnocchi and cook for 4-5 minutes stirring regularly, until golden.

Mix in chopped thyme and lemon zest.

Serve with additional Parmesan shredded on top.

More Delicious Recipes

If you love a good homemade meal filled with delicious flavors, then you are in the right place. Whether you want something simple or complex, the story of food is all about the combination of flavors that brings out the best in every dish. Below are some of our favorite dishes that are sure to please your tastebuds.

• Homestyle Baked Chicken Paprikash Recipe
• Roasted Chicken with Garlic Butter
• Crispy Garlic Herb Chicken with Parmesan Cauliflower Rice