Healthy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi (Printer-friendly)

Pillowy gnocchi combined with smoked salmon, fresh herbs, and a creamy lemon-infused sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Gnocchi

01 - 1.1 pounds 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 ounces 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 ounces smoked salmon, sliced into strips

→ Garnish

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

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook according to package directions, until they float to the surface, about 2–3 minutes. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
02 - 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 to the skillet and cook, stirring constantly, 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, mixing until smooth and combined.
05 - Add cooked gnocchi to the skillet, tossing gently to coat evenly in the sauce. Warm through for 1–2 minutes, stirring carefully to avoid breaking the gnocchi.
06 - Remove from heat. Fold in smoked salmon strips, allowing residual heat to warm the salmon gently without overcooking.
07 - Divide among serving plates. Sprinkle with remaining dill and chives. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce feels luxurious and creamy but uses lighter ingredients that wont weigh you down
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something special
  • The combination of smoked salmon and fresh dill creates that restaurant-quality flavor without the restaurant price tag
02 -
  • The biggest mistake people make is adding the smoked salmon while the pan is still on heat, which turns it into something chewy and unpleasant
  • Whole wheat gnocchi can take slightly longer to float than potato versions, so don't rush that first step
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients incorporate more smoothly into the sauce, so take the dairy out about 15 minutes before cooking
  • Use a microplane for the lemon zest—you get just the aromatic outer layer without any bitter white pith

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