Main Course/ Pasta/ Recipes/ Seasonal Recipes/ Vegetarian

Gnocchi with Goat Cheese, Grape Tomatoes and Basil

Happy Friday to you, party people!

I’ve been super excited about this recipe all week because it really was one of those miracle dinners that was thrown together at the last second and remarkably was absolutely amazing. I don’t know how I ever doubted the gnocchi smothered in goat cheese could be anything less than amazing. But yeah….amazing!

I made this dinner for a few girlfriends the other night (the same night we drank prosecco out of water glasses and ate frozen butterscotch meringue bars) and no, I did not make my own gnocchi. I was too busy pouring prosecco!

I fashioned it after a delicious goat cheese pasta that Ashley made a month or so ago and that I’ve been obsessed with ever since. The idea is really easy—just melt a huge wad of goat cheese over hot pasta and add your mix-ins. In this case, grape tomatoes and fresh basil.

Except being the genius I am, I accidentally bought fig goat cheese instead of regular. Fig!

It was still delicious though! See? Genius.

When you make dinner with a bunch of girls, silly things happen. Like Korina sticking her face underneath my table to get in the shot. Totally normal.

Please make this tonight…or tomorrow. It will completely change your weekend. If you haven’t noticed, I’m obsessed with gnocchi. And goat cheese. And, most importantly, prosecco.

Gnocchi with Goat Cheese, Grape Tomatoes and Basil

serves 4

Print this recipe!

Ingredients:

1 package pre-made gnocchi (or make your own—I used whole wheat gnocchi from Trader Joe’s!)

1 log goat cheese (about 6 oz)

1/2 cup cooking water leftover from boiling gnocchi

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup torn basil leaves

Directions:

Cook gnocchi in boiling salted water for a couple minutes until all the gnocchi float. Drain and save 1/2 cup water.

Transfer the hot gnocchi to a large bowl, add goat cheese, cooking water, cherry tomatoes and basil. Mix well so cheese melts.

Season with a little black pepper to taste. Serve immediately (this isn’t a good dish to reheat).

Time:

10 minutes

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  • Molly @ RDexposed
    July 22, 2011 at 4:41 am

    With 5 basil plants in the garden, I’m always looking for a way to use it up! The goat cheese is the clincher in this-I can tell already!

  • Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance
    July 22, 2011 at 4:42 am

    Gnocchi 🙂 mmmmmm

  • Julie - StressStories
    July 22, 2011 at 4:47 am

    Wow this looks amazing! Have to try it – I’m also head over heals with gnocchi.
    And I love, love, love goat cheese melted over… anything. I might be a bit obsessed recently actually. Can’t count how many times we’ve had penne with goat cheese, fresh shelled peas (in season!!) and bacon the past weeks. Since naturally bacon and goat cheese are meant to be together 🙂

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
    July 22, 2011 at 4:52 am

    It looks marvelous! I love tomatoes and basil. I could eat the combo all.day.long. And many days of the week, I do have that combo!

    Miracle dinners that are thrown together and with amazing results? I love it when the kitchen gods smile down upon thee. 🙂

  • Laura
    July 22, 2011 at 4:55 am

    This looks amazing. I love recipes with so few ingredients, and anything with goat cheese and tomatoes in the summer is a winner to me.

  • Corey @ Learning Patience
    July 22, 2011 at 4:57 am

    More Prosecco girl? – I’m liking you more & more — hee hee 🙂 It looks great – if you want to try something new after you boil the Gnocchi, rinse, then heat some olive oil and garlic in a pan –( I always add some mushrooms too) then pan fry the Gnocchi – after a minute or two flip them over — then serve with whatever sauce you like — seriously that semi crunchy outside with the gooey inside is divine!!!! Happy Friday!

    • Julia
      July 22, 2011 at 11:09 pm

      Pan fried gnocchi! Thank you for sharing that tip. It sounds insanely good!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    July 22, 2011 at 4:59 am

    looks so creamy! i die 🙂

  • Baking N Books
    July 22, 2011 at 5:02 am

    I’ve never had Gnocchi before – it’s like pasta right? …or potatoes? I also don’t know what Proseco is! Oh my….love the 1rst pic though. The red 🙂

  • Lauren @ What Lauren Likes
    July 22, 2011 at 5:06 am

    my heart skipped a beat when I saw gnocchi. Adding the basil and tomato and I was in heaven! Amazing… 🙂

  • Bethany @ More Fruit Please
    July 22, 2011 at 5:06 am

    I just added goat cheese to my pasta last night and was so impressed with how creamy it was after melting. I couldn’t believe I haven’t tried it before! Next on the list is fig goat cheese!

  • Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
    July 22, 2011 at 5:12 am

    Yum! It’s like the best of all worlds…goat cheese, caprese and gnocchi! Mmm. 🙂 Looks delicious!

  • amy walters, aDESIGNdock
    July 22, 2011 at 5:15 am

    Jenna, your Girl’s Nights always look so much fun! I love that you share glimpse’s of those special nights! Have a fabulous weekend 😉

  • jenna
    July 22, 2011 at 5:16 am

    what a fun dinner! I love that you have girls nights!! so fun!

  • Kathryn
    July 22, 2011 at 5:17 am

    I’ve done something similar with feta cheese which was awesome – this version looks fab too. Gnocchi are so good and I’m always looking for more reasons to eat them!

  • Tracie
    July 22, 2011 at 5:28 am

    This looks absolutely amazing! Hello, tomato, basil, gnocchi and goat cheese. How could it be anything other than spectacular?

  • Shannon
    July 22, 2011 at 5:29 am

    Wow! I am loving everything about this dinner! I love basil and gnocchi! I’ve never tried goat cheese but I’ve been curious about it lately, looks like a good place to start 🙂

  • Kristen @ notsodomesticated
    July 22, 2011 at 5:40 am

    Looks great! And I love that your friend got in the picture… too cute!

  • Cait's Plate
    July 22, 2011 at 5:45 am

    This looks awesome. I’m a huge gnocchi fan as well. Not so much on the goat cheese – do you think I could substitute feta or would it not be creamy enough?

    I love dinners that are randomly thrown together and come out amazing. The only problem I have with that is it can become difficult for me when trying to remember exactly what I the first time so that I can recreate it ! Haha.

  • Lizzie
    July 22, 2011 at 6:02 am

    Goat cheese? Basil? Gnocchi? ‘Nuff said!! 🙂 OK, well there could really never be enough said about how delicious and yummy this dish looks. If my basil plants keep surviving the heat, they will be cooked with this (either that or I’ll be at the farmers market buying copious amounts of theirs!).

  • katie @KatieDid
    July 22, 2011 at 6:12 am

    Can you say easiest and most delicious cream sauce ever. I’ve never ordered or made gnocchi, it was always something I wanted to try and then I found out I can’t eat gluten. So I’m on a mission to make and/or find GF gnocchi…. anyone out there have a recipe?!

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
    July 22, 2011 at 6:21 am

    I make this all the time with regular pasta, I bet gnocchi would be so much better!

  • Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove
    July 22, 2011 at 6:22 am

    I LOVE gnocchi (as well as tomatoes & basil). I may skip on the goat cheese since I’m not a big fan of that but otherwise this looks amazing and so summery! Yum!

  • Haley Q
    July 22, 2011 at 6:24 am

    I’m definitely going to have to steal this recipe! I have all the ingredients just waiting to be used, so this is perfect, thanks!!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    July 22, 2011 at 6:26 am

    Normally I’d think of gnocchi as a heavier dish, but this recipe sounds so light and summery! There’d definitely be room for butterscotch meringue bars.. and plenty of prosecco of course!

  • Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama}
    July 22, 2011 at 6:27 am

    I am in love with fresh basil this summer. I can’t get enough. This looks like a perfect combo!

  • J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog)
    July 22, 2011 at 6:30 am

    Wow, that looks incredible!! Love the flavor combo.

  • Faith @ lovelyascharged
    July 22, 2011 at 6:42 am

    Oh. My. Gosh. I’m definitely going to be rocking this with vegan cream cheese!

  • emily
    July 22, 2011 at 6:49 am

    I used to make a recipe where the gnocchi was made with goat cheese ~ i can’t find it online, but it was in one of ursula ferrigno’s much older cookbooks. It was really light & perfect for summer. this looks just as tasty though!

  • R @ Learning As I Chop
    July 22, 2011 at 6:53 am

    That looks so good. And I love last minute dinners that turn into successes!

  • Jen
    July 22, 2011 at 6:54 am

    This would totally NOT be the same made with gluten-free pasta instead of gnocchi, which makes me sad, because this looks delicious and I love gnocchi. I think I’m still going to make it with GF pasta though. Goat cheese makes everything delicious, and it would be fun to use cherry tomatoes and basil with a cheese other than mozzarella! I bet this would be great with ravioli too.

    • Jen
      July 22, 2011 at 6:54 am

      Edit: grape tomatoes!

  • Joelle (On A Pink Typewriter)
    July 22, 2011 at 6:54 am

    This looks SUPER easy, and I would imagine light goat cheese to be fabulous paired with the heavier gnocchi. Yum.

  • Erin
    July 22, 2011 at 6:57 am

    Gnocchi and a creamy tangy sauce is the best! I love the basil and tomatoes in this as well. Great last minute job! 😉

  • Caroline @ The G-Spot
    July 22, 2011 at 7:02 am

    This looks HEAVENLY. I might just have to whip up some of my gluten-free gnocchi and give it a whirl! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

  • Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles
    July 22, 2011 at 7:05 am

    Good thinking girl! …That huge amount of basil would make the dish! YUM! BASIL!

  • Brenna [fabuleuxdestin]
    July 22, 2011 at 7:35 am

    YUM! I love gnocchi

  • Chels
    July 22, 2011 at 7:41 am

    yummylish! can’t wait to try!

  • Claire @ ThinkingClairely
    July 22, 2011 at 7:45 am

    WOW Jenna this looks amazing!

  • Michelle | Gold-hearted Girl
    July 22, 2011 at 7:45 am

    So much color! Looks great, I’d love to try this for dinner! I go crazy for anything with basil.

  • kaila @ healthy helper!
    July 22, 2011 at 7:46 am

    I LOVE GNOCCHI! Especially homemade! Its the best!

  • Erin @ Cooking on Whim
    July 22, 2011 at 7:51 am

    You are a woman after my own heart. Gnocchi is seriously my favorite “pasta”. I also have a new-found love of goat cheese. This will be on my to-make list…. along with half of your other recipes. Thanks for sharing this one (and for not making me feel bad about using store-bought gnocchi!). 🙂

  • Shari @ Chicago Cuisine Critique
    July 22, 2011 at 8:04 am

    This looks incredible! Definitely made my Foodie Friday list this week. Post should be up later today. Be sure to check it out! http://chicagocuisinecritique.blogspot.com/search/label/Foodie%20Friday

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  • Girl in the pink
    July 22, 2011 at 8:19 am

    I love gnocchi!!! I never make it though bc my husband doesn’t like it!

  • Priyanka
    July 22, 2011 at 8:19 am

    Amazing…. 🙂

  • Beth (Well I'll Be)
    July 22, 2011 at 8:20 am

    Yum I’m for sure making this this weekend!! I haven’t had gnocchi since getting back from Italy!

  • Kelsey @ aslolife
    July 22, 2011 at 8:43 am

    This looks amazing!! I remember my brother fell in love with gnocchi when we visited Italy ages ago but it’s something I aways forget about when making pasta. And pretty much anything with goat cheese instantly becomes my favorite!

  • Rebekah @ PDX Food Love
    July 22, 2011 at 8:46 am

    Wow, goat cheese with figs… I must find some of this.

    Thanks for the recipe!

  • Alejandra @ Mouthfuls and Morsels
    July 22, 2011 at 9:12 am

    My basil is growing in abundance. I think it just found its purpose!

    BTW, goat cheese and fig?? YUM!

  • Lizz @ Leading the Good Life
    July 22, 2011 at 9:23 am

    Yum, yum, yum! And I totally didn’t notice your friend’s face under the table until you pointed it out. Ha!

  • Steph @ Running in the Kitchen
    July 22, 2011 at 9:37 am

    I’ve been trying to decide what to do with the gnocci in my cabinet. Now I know! Thanks!!!

  • Jen of My Tiny Oven
    July 22, 2011 at 9:43 am

    Brilliant! I am drooling over this dish and can’t wait to try it!

  • Mellie
    July 22, 2011 at 9:54 am

    Yum! I bet fig goat cheese would be really good.

  • Courtney Craig
    July 22, 2011 at 10:19 am

    We made your suggested Grilled Peaches w/ Goat Cheese & Honey last night (it was AWESOME), so I’ve got some leftover goat cheese. Mix that with some fresh basil from my garden, and it looks like I’ve got a use for it all! Yum!

  • Maria
    July 22, 2011 at 10:21 am

    Love this meal!

  • Natalya
    July 22, 2011 at 10:38 am

    That looks delicious! I love throwing spinach in pasta salads 🙂

  • Amanda
    July 22, 2011 at 11:06 am

    Yes, please! This looks phenomenal. And I also love prosecco – a favorite drink…that, and skinny girl margaritas 🙂

  • Carly
    July 22, 2011 at 11:07 am

    This looks DELICIOUS! Gah.

    -Carly (www.createliveblog.com)

  • Adelina
    July 22, 2011 at 11:45 am

    Love the pics and the recipe. I am glad you included the photo of your friend in the shot. It’s very cute and shows that you were having a lot of fun.

  • Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
    July 22, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    This looks amazing. I’ve been wanting to make gnocci from scratch and I think this would be EXACTLY the way to serve it!

  • Katrina
    July 22, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    This looks perfect! Awesome recipe!

  • Sam
    July 22, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    YUM. Not sure if anyone else has said this, but ricotta with this combo would also be tasty with a few seasonings!

  • Ashley @ 5ohwifey.blogspot.com/
    July 22, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    I dont know what is better- the straight up ridiculicousness of this meal or the picture of Korina creeping!

  • Sarah @ Sarah's Modern Bites
    July 22, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    YUM! Would probably be good with blue cheese too, no!? I haven’t had gnocchi in ages. Would be an awesome potluck dish… I’m going to a house warming Saturday night and the hostess adores goat cheese!!

  • Ally
    July 22, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    I’ve tried that same brand of gnocchi and it is really good! I think i share your love of goat cheese, I have officially upgraded to the large 8oz log over the 4 oz.

  • korina
    July 22, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    I love creeping 😉 also, all us girls 😀

  • Kristin Murdock
    July 22, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    Ooh! I have some homemade gnocchi in the freezer, and this sounds like the perfect way to use them up!

  • Jackie @ That Deep Breath
    July 22, 2011 at 3:53 pm

    looks delicious…i’ve never tried gnocchi! i may have to now

  • Happy When Not Hungry
    July 22, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    Such a simple recipe! Love these types of pasta dishes!

  • Kim
    July 22, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    Now that looks amazing.

  • Emily @ Life on Food
    July 22, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    This looks amazing. It has so many yummy foods thrown in together. I don’t know how something like this could not be absolutely delicious. I just found gnocchi at Trader Joe’s the other day. Love it, but it seems so hard to find sometimes.

  • Danielle
    July 22, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    This is on my “to make asap” list. So many of my favourite things in one meal.

  • Paige @ Running Around Normal
    July 22, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    I’ve never eaten real gnocchi before! I tried to make it once, but it was an epic fail.

  • Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather
    July 22, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    I seriously love goat cheese too! And fig goat cheese was probably amazing too. You’ve got some silly friends.

  • Sarah@The Flying ONION
    July 23, 2011 at 5:15 am

    This looks so delish!

    It slightly reminds me of a cheesey gnocchi dish that I had in Boston once, at the Top of the Hub. They had morel mushrooms inside, which sopped up all the delicious sauce. It was heaven! 😀

  • Kim
    July 23, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    That looks so good. I love how it looks on the placemat, too! Super cute shot!

  • Julie @ Sugarfoot Eats
    July 23, 2011 at 5:47 pm

    Can’t wait to try this one VERY soon!

  • Becki @ Becki's Whole Life
    July 24, 2011 at 5:19 am

    This looks simple, flavorful and a great meatless dinner option – love it!

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    July 25, 2011 at 5:38 am

    Just wondering if there is another cheese I can substitute for goat cheese in this recipe? My husband and kids are not a fan of goat cheese. Thanks for sharing!

  • Amy
    July 25, 2011 at 7:24 am

    Love, love, love prosecco. And goat cheese. You’ve just given me a great use for the abundance of cherry tomatoes in my garden!

  • Megan Gillespie
    July 25, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    Wow, I may have just died and gone to heaven! This looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it out.

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    July 26, 2011 at 6:04 am

    Made this last night…AMAZING. I mean, how can you go wrong with goat cheese and gnocchi??

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    August 4, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    i just made this tonight for my boyfriend who hates all white, creamy things (i know) and hates goat cheese. i subbed the cherry toms for mini heirlooms from tj’s, pesto for fresh basil, and kept in all that delish goat cheese and guess what?…

    …boyfriend loved it. engagement gnocchi? jkjk.

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    This looks absolutely incredible! I love goat cheese and I’ve been wanting to experiment with gnocchi for a while – very excited! Thanks so much!!

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    August 28, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    When I made this, there was entirely too much cheese (And I LOOOOVE cheese). I used spinach instead of basil, but I don’t think that would have done it? Next time, I will only use half of a log.

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