Healthy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi (Printable version)

Light gnocchi cooked with smoked salmon, fresh greens, and a creamy herb sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Gnocchi

01 - 1.1 lbs whole wheat or potato gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)

→ Sauce & Vegetables

02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
05 - 3.5 oz baby spinach, roughly chopped
06 - 1/3 cup low-fat crème fraîche or Greek yogurt
07 - Zest and juice of 1 lemon
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Smoked Salmon

10 - 5.3 oz smoked salmon, sliced into strips

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
12 - Extra lemon wedges

# How to Prepare:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook according to package instructions, until they float to the surface (about 2–3 minutes). Drain and set aside.
02 - Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and shallot, sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
03 - Add spinach and cook, stirring, until just wilted, about 1 minute.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in crème fraîche (or Greek yogurt), lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper, and half the dill.
05 - Add cooked gnocchi to the skillet, tossing gently to coat in the sauce. Warm through for 1–2 minutes.
06 - Remove from heat. Fold in smoked salmon strips—let residual heat warm the salmon without overcooking.
07 - Divide among plates. Sprinkle with remaining dill and chives. Serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • The creamy sauce feels indulgent but uses lighter ingredients, so you can actually feel good about seconds
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a proper Italian restaurant
02 -
  • Never cook the smoked salmon directly or it will become tough and lose its delicate texture. The residual heat from the gnocchi is all it needs.
  • Using Greek yogurt instead of crème fraîche can sometimes cause the sauce to separate if the pan is too hot, so keep that temperature low.
03 -
  • Reserve about 1/4 cup of the gnocchi cooking water before draining. Add it to the sauce if it seems too thick, the starchy water helps everything cling together.
  • Buy smoked salmon from the counter rather than prepackaged if possible. The texture is silkier and the smoke flavor feels more natural.

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