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It was with great relief yesterday that Mr. Scrummy and I finally had a little chat with our neighbour who lives in the flat next door to us. A teensy tiny chat, but a chat all the same. You see, since arriving back in the UK a few weeks ago and settling into a flat of our own, it’s just been the two of us around here. On our morning walks around our new neighbourhood (pretty pleasant, although it’s most often shrouded in fog and drizzle) we were beginning to become a bit disconcerted about the lack of ‘good mornings’ or even smiles and/or eye contact we were getting from neighbours or fellow early walkers. When we were in Perth we would usually exchange a little greeting with whomever we happened to pass, but we really haven’t been getting much joy in that department over here.
Now, you may be thinking, does this therefore mean all British people are a bunch of antisocial miseries? (Quick! Cancel that plane ticket to London you got for next summer’s vacation!) Well, I’m happy to report that generally we’re quite friendly, but it doesn’t hurt to have a pet and/or baby with you to help break the ice. Our neighbour had a cute little doggie with her that sparked off our little conversation yesterday (‘Oh, how cute, what’s its name?’ etc. … you know how it goes), so we’re now thinking of asking her if we can borrow it when we go on our walks to see if it helps us make some more friends. Not really. But it isn’t a bad idea now, is it?
So being friendless in a middle England dull and foggy November definitely has a silver lining: lots of time for staying inside, getting all cozy and warm and making tasty comfort food like this sausage, butternut squash & kale gnocchi bake.
Anything that’s called a ‘bake’ shouts cheesy, oozy deliciousness to me, and this one didn’t disappoint. It has relatively few ingredients in it and yet fantastic flavour, mostly due to the crumbled sausage meat, which always makes for a great hit of taste, all enhanced by the addition of a rich tomato sauce with fennel seeds, garlic, fresh basil and a little splash of balsamic vinegar to add a bit more oomph.
I added the kale and roasted butternut squash because I thought you needed something in there to make you feel smug about that day’s veggie intake, which is what it did for me. And of course finishing up with chunks of mozzarella and a sprinkle of parmesan puts this firmly in the November-appropriate comfort food category.
As usual in this little teeny corner of the web, this was not at all difficult to make. Just roast small chunks of the butternut squash while boiling up your gnocchi and kale for a few minutes, then make the passata-based sausage sauce in a pan before stirring everything together, dotting the cheeses over the top and baking. Delicious and (almost) enough to make up for being Mr. and Mrs. Billy No-mates. Boo hoo.
Sausage, butternut squash & kale gnocchi bake
Ingredients
- about half a butternut squash chopped into smallish pieces
- 3.5 ounces kale washed & chopped into small pieces (remove any tough stems)
- one package of potato gnocchi mine was about 17 ounces – 500 grams
- olive oil for frying
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves crushed or finely sliced
- 4 good quality pork sausages
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 14 ounces passata
- a large handful of fresh basil leaves chopped
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 ball of mozzarella
- a handful of grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350F/180C. Toss the butternut squash with a little olive oil, salt and pepper on a baking tray, cover with foil and roast for 30 minutes. Then take off the foil and roast for another 10 minutes. Put aside.
- Boil the kale for about 5 minutes, then tip in the gnocchi as well and cook for a couple of minutes longer. Drain and set aside.
- Heat up a good drizzle of olive oil in a skillet/frying pan, then fry the onion for a couple of minutes. Add the garlic to the pan, then run a knife down the side of the sausages so that you can squeeze the meat out into the pan. Cook, breaking up the sausage meat into small bits as you go, for 7 or 8 minutes, then add the thyme, fennel seeds & passata and cook for a further few minutes. Finally, stir in the basil.
- Add the squash, kale and gnocchi to the sausage and tomato mixture, then give it all a good stir before tipping it into a medium-sized baking dish. Tear the mozzarella ball into pieces over the top, sprinkle the parmesan over and bake for about 20 minutes until bubbling.
Notes
Nutrition
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lori @ TheHealthMinded.com says
Hello Helen — Just wanted to pop in and say I made this last week and it was so yummy! Even better the next day, I think. I used organic Italian chicken sausage and I did not precook the gnocchi at all. The package directions said to cook for 2-5 minutes so by just throwing in there with the other ingredients and baking it, it did beautifully!
I love the squash addition for health reasons, of course, but also the element of sweet it adds. Seriosly, everyone, this is so easy and a great make-ahead. I made it in the afternoon and baked it that night! Thanks, wonderful and creative, Helen!
Helen says
Hi, Lori. You have no idea how happy this makes me! Thanks so much for letting me know … and also for the tip to not bother pre-cooking the gnocchi. Makes the whole thing even easier. Actually, I think I might even add a note to the recipe to let readers know they can do this if they like. It’s also a great tip to make it ahead – I love that smug feeling you get at dinner time that dinner’s already sorted when you do this.
Thanks again for your support, Lori. I’m very happy that I have a happy customer here!
Annie @Maebells says
We avoid of neighbors…haha! I grew up on a big farm with no neighbors and I have decided I am not a very neighborly person. I would rather run in my house without any awkward conversation! 🙂 I do love this dish though! Beautiful flavors!
Helen says
Hahaha … I love your honesty, Annie … just remind me not to live too near to you, though (lol!) So glad you like the dish – anything with sausage in is a hit with me!
Lilli @ Sugar and Cinnamon says
Baked gnocchi is my absolute ultimate comfort food! This looks so delicious
Helen says
Hi, Lilli … thanks so much! 🙂
Eva says
C’est sure Helen, avoir un chien ou des enfants ça aide! J’ai commencé à rencontre de gens ici quand j’ai eu mes enfants. Les voisins qu’avant ils ne disent pas bonjour ils on commencer à s’arrêté pour voir ce qu’avait dans le landau ! Peut être ton voisin il vous laissera promené le chien de temps en temps !
Ton plat me paraît divine ! C’est l’heure de dîner, j’ai faim et j’aurais aimer gouté ton plat chaud !!
Helen says
Coucou, Eva, et merci beaucoup! Je suis ravie que tu aimes ce plat tant. Je l’ai mange de nouveau aujourd’hui parce que j’avais mis le restant au congelateur. Mmmm!
OK, donc selon ton conseil je dois acheter un petit chien et avoir un bebe a la fois! Pourquoi pas?! 😉
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
We still have kale growing in the garden and I always love the combo of kale and sausage in recipes! Can’t wait to try this yummy recipe!
Helen says
Oh, I hope you do, Pamela! I don’t always manage to make kale tender enough, but I bet you do! Glad you like this bake!
Jessica @ Jessica in the Kitchen says
Haha love the idea of borrowing her dog! I need to try that. This bake looks so incredibly yummy and cheesy indeed!
Helen says
Glad you approve, Jessica (of both the dog idea and the bake!)
lori @ TheHealthMinded.com says
For the life of me, I do not understand people that you walk right by on an empty road taking a stroll that do not at least nod or say hello! Fears that you will stop them and spark up a long, dull conversation? I don’t know, but just smile at least!
I have a package of gnocchi in my fridge that I need to do something with and I think I found just what to do with t! Sounds yummy!
Helen says
I know! It’s crazy, isn’t it? I sometimes smile at them first but usually just get (at best) a slightly surprised and weak smile back. Bizarre, huh?
So glad you like the gnocchi bake and hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Laura says
Helen, this looks delicious. It is actually snowing where I live, although it shouldn’t be quite yet….this time of year, bleh and I just need a good, solid comfort casserole. Plus, like you said, nothing complicated here, looks easy to make. And honestly, when it’s cold outside, I don’t mind cooking too much. Although I refuse to get all smug about the addition of kale & squash veggie intake, ha. Love it. Bursting with flavor and who can resist that real mozz on top? We love all our neighbors here, we live near such awesome people, so lucky. Our street is really fun, but not as fun as living in a “flat”!!!
Helen says
You’re so lucky having good neighbours! I suppose that comes from living something for quite a while though and building up a strong natural rapport. We’ll get there some day when we have our own house!
Anyway, so glad you like the sound of this bake. I promise you it’s easy peasy to make and I really hope you do try it. 😉
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
This sounds like such perfect comfort food. I am loving kale at the moment.
We know some of our neighbours and they are really nice, others are not so nice.
Helen says
Hi, Dannii! Hope you enjoyed the rest of your holiday! I’m a bit of a kale newbie and am not sure what to make of it yet. It was good in this bake and I love kale crisps, though. Mmmmm!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
this looks perfect for dinner tonight! Hope you meet more people to say hello to on your daily walks 🙂
Helen says
Thanks so much, Tandy!! 🙂
Marcie says
Helen. This is my kind of dish! I love gnocchi and all the veggie-sausage goodness going on. Pinned!
Helen says
Hi, Marcie! Thanks so much for the pin. I find that anything with sausage in it tastes really good – and because it’s so tasty you don’t need to add too many other ingredients. Just my kind of dish, too!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Gnocchi is one of my favorite dishes, yet I hardly ever make it! I definitely have to change that after seeing this recipe. What a fantastic idea to combine sausage and butternut squash into a bake. Sounds like the perfect comfort food, Helen!
Helen says
This was actually the first time I’d cooked with gnocchi for ages, and the first time ever I’d made a bake with it, but I was really pleased with the result. Glad you like it, Gayle!
Annie @ ciaochowbambina says
You know what they say…we get what we give… which means you will be swimming in friendly hellos in no time! Your energy will speak for itself…but cute babies and puppies never hurt either! 😉 And this dish…forget about it! I need it in my life right now!
Helen says
Hi, Annie! Haha … that’s so true! Well, I hope it’s true. Thanks so much for passing by, and so happy you like this!