Spinach and Walnut Gnocchi

This pasta dish is a nice departure from the traditional kind smothered with red sauce. A few simple and healthy ingredients combine to create a nice and subtle blend of earthy, fresh flavor. I found a whole wheat variety of gnocchi at Trader Joes that I was excited to try in this recipe.

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked gnocchi, preferably whole wheat (I used Trader Joes whole wheat brand)
1 teaspoon olive oil
½ cup finely chopped shallots
2 -3 cloves garlic cloves, finely chopped
6 cups of fresh spinach
½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
¼ cup white wine
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
chopped fresh basil (optional for garnish)

Directions:

Cook gnocchi according to package directions, drain and set aside. Add the teaspoon of olive oil to a large pan, throw in the shallots and garlic and brown on medium heat for about 3 minutes. Add the spinach, broth and wine and heat until spinach is slightly wilted, Stir in the cooked gnocchi and heat for another few minutes until warmed though. Top with nuts and cheese (1/2 tablespoon of each) and serve. Fresh chopped basil makes a nice garnish.

Makes 3 cups, 6 servings:

Serving size: ½ cup Calories 160 Protein 3 g Carb 21g Fiber 3 g Sugars 0 g Fat <1 g saturated fat 0 g Sodium 300 mg