What to Serve with Gnocchi? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Italy is the birthplace of many dishes, and gnocchi is one of the most popular.

The traditional variety includes wheat flour, potato, egg, and salt.

But there are also many variations that contain other ingredients.

The Italians usually eat gnocchi as a first course or entrée.

But you can also eat it along with other items as it’s versatile.

Do you want to know what to serve with gnocchi?

If yes, you need not go elsewhere because here, we will mention the seven dishes you can pair alongside gnocchi.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Gnocchi?

The bite-sized food is delicious, and you can gorge on it endlessly.

But no matter how healthy or tasty, it’s not good to eat any food in large amounts.

When serving gnocchi, you need other dishes to complete your meal.

They will fill you up and allow you to enjoy gnocchi even more.

Your guests will also like it when they notice several other compatible dishes alongside gnocchi, and everyone will enjoy the food.

So, why shouldn’t you serve side dishes with gnocchi?

What to Serve with Gnocchi? 7 BEST Side Dishes

You can eat plenty of stuff with gnocchi, but we have shared only seven dishes below as we can’t mention all of them.

1 – Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms

It’s a basic dish but tastes heavenly, and you won’t regret pairing it with gnocchi.

The mushrooms and garlic combo is terrific, making the dish flavorful and aromatic.

Mushrooms also have a meaty taste and texture, so it will feel like you’re eating a non-veg protein.

They also have the ability to create savory rich flavors called umami, and so many chefs prefer to use them in their recipes.

Sautéed garlic mushrooms are quite simple, and you don’t require many ingredients.

You just have to sauté mushrooms and garlic in a bit of butter and let them cook.

Add some thyme and parsley, and you will have an aromatic and juicy mushroom dish.

When paired with gnocchi, you won’t want to stop eating.

2 – Baked Tomatoes with Cheese

The sweet, sour, and juicy tomatoes stuffed with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese is another dish you can serve with gnocchi.

It’s pretty simple, no doubt, but when you eat them side by side, you’ll be amazed at the flavors.

You can add this dish if you don’t have many guests to serve because baked tomatoes with cheese are so yum that it won’t be enough.

You can also include veggies, herbs, and spices if you want to increase the taste.

Though eaten as a vegetable, the tomato is a fruit of the nightshade family.

There are several varieties, but not all are suitable for baking.

You can use heirloom, beefsteak, or Roma tomatoes to make the dish.

3 – Italian Roasted Cauliflower

Cauliflower is an underrated vegetable, but it has so much to offer.

You can eat it raw or cooked. You can roast, stir fry, make a paste or even substitute rice.

We included roasted cauliflower in Italian style because it tastes lovely and complements gnocchi.

The dish is also simple; you only need to prep the veggies and place them in the oven, which will cook right through.

You require cauliflower florets, olive oil, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, and tomato paste to obtain the best Italian flavors.

4 – Panzanella Salad

A fresh dish with gnocchi sounds interesting.

It will surely be a good match since Panzanella salad is also an Italian dish.

The salad usually has tomatoes, onions, and stale bread.

But you can also add cucumber and basil with vinegar and olive oil dressing.

Lemon juice, carrots, lettuce, white & red wine, celery and mozzarella, bell pepper, boiled eggs, parsley, salt, and pepper also find their way in some variations.

You can make the salad with basic ingredients or add the other items to make a big batch, especially if you have plenty of guests to serve.

5 – Sauteed Garlic Green Beans

We’re adding another veggie dish to the list, and this time it’s green beans.

Gnocchi pairs very nicely with garlic green beans, so we added them to the list.

Green beans grow year-round, so they’re readily available at any time.

If you want fresh and organic legumes, visit the farmer’s markets from May to October as they grow abundantly during these months.

The dish is easy to cook, and you require very few ingredients.

Prep the beans and garlic, and sauté them in little butter or olive oil.

Sprinkle salt and pepper and add some Parmesan cheese.

See, it’s pretty simple yet so delicious.

You have a lovely aroma from garlic, the cheesy flavor, and crunchy but well-cooked beans that complement gnocchi.

6 – Roasted Broccoli with Lemon and Parmesan

Broccoli doesn’t get much attention from people, but this veggie deserves a lot more respect.

It’s not only tasty but also nutritious and versatile.

Broccoli pairs so well with Parmesan and lemon, and when you serve the dish with gnocchi, they become an incredible combination.

It doesn’t take much time to cook the dish, too, so you can include it on the menu when hosting a party.

Broccoli also contains many nutrients and may support gut health, boost the immune system, and even lower the risk of heart diseases.

Hence, moderate consumption can be beneficial.

7 – Green Peas with Butter

Finally, we are including one more veggie dish; green peas with butter.

It’s also one of the most basic dishes but incredibly delicious.

When you eat it with gnocchi, you won’t regret serving it because the pair is a match made in heaven.

There isn’t much to do when it comes to this dish.

You only have to sauté peas and onions in butter or olive oil and add salt and pepper.

The crunchy but perfectly cooked peas and onions click nicely with the softness of the gnocchi.

Both dishes are light, but they will satisfy your cravings.

Conclusion

Most dishes mentioned above are easy to prepare, so they will also be suitable to serve during large gatherings.

They’re also yummy and compatible with gnocchi, so everyone can enjoy the dish.

The seven items may not be sufficient if you host a party regularly and plan to serve gnocchi frequently.

So, you can also make Parmesan cookies, tomato marinara sauce, Tuscan white bean salad, kale salad, eggplant salad with chickpeas and feta, Sauteed asparagus, and Stuffed zucchini with Parmesan and garlic.