Homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe - Grain Free + Paleo Option! (2024)

You can make this Sweet Potato Gnocchi at home with just 3 simple ingredients. It is easier than you think to make a delicious and healthy sweet potato gnocchi recipe!

Homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe - Grain Free + Paleo Option! (1)

Contents hide

Can I make sweet potato gnocchi at home?

What should I serve with my sweet potato gnocchi?

What kitchen tools will I need to make this homemade gnocchi?

What ingredients will I need to make this sweet potato gnocchi recipe?

How do I make sweet potato gnocchi?

Can I freeze sweet potato gnocchi?

Check out these other healthy comfort food recipes!

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Can I make sweet potato gnocchi at home?

No offense to Trader Joe’s, but you can finally stop wasting your money on those bags of premade gnocchi. This sweet potato gnocchi recipe will teach you how to make your own gnocchi at home with just 3 simple ingredients.

This recipe is paleo, and technically the ingredients are Whole30 compliant, it just might be considered SWYPO.

I like to use cassava flour for this recipe because it is a smooth, fine, grain-free flour that mixes into the dough easily. If you are not paleo, you can use all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or gluten free flour.

What should I serve with my sweet potato gnocchi?

I love this homemade gnocchi recipe because it is SO versatile! You can easily just use a jar of marinara to make a quick and easy dinner or you can make a homemade sauce.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy this gnocchi is with a lemon butter sauce and wilted spinach. I pan fry my gnocchi then I remove it from the pan and add some garlic and butter to the pan. Once the butter and garlic are soft I squeeze in a cheek of lemon.

Finally, I add in a big handful of spinach and allow it to wilt slightly. I add the cooked sweet potato gnocchi back to the pan and toss until it is coated in the sauce and spinach. Then, I add it back to a bowl and top with some parmesan cheese

Homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe - Grain Free + Paleo Option! (2)
  • Sauce pan
  • Frying pan
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cups
Homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe - Grain Free + Paleo Option! (3)

What ingredients will I need to make this sweet potato gnocchi recipe?

You will be amazed at how easy it is to make this gnocchi with just 3 ingredients. The store bought version is loaded with extra ingredients and fillers, but when you make it at home its very simple

  • Sweet potato
  • Egg (can sub 1 flax egg)
  • Cassava flour (Can substitute regular AP flour, whole wheat flour or gluten free flour)
  • Olive oil or butter for cooking sweet potato gnocchi
  • Salt and pepper for seasoning
Homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe - Grain Free + Paleo Option! (4)
Homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe - Grain Free + Paleo Option! (5)

How do I make sweet potato gnocchi?

Step 1: Steam the sweet potato

First, peel and cut the sweet potato into large cubes. Add sweet potato to a pot and steam until soft and easily pierced with a fork.

Then, place the cooked sweet potato in the refrigerator to allow the sweet potato to cool completely. Mash the sweet potato down with a potato masher or the back of a fork.

Step 2: Make the gnocchi dough

Then, place 3/4 cup mashed sweet potato on a cutting board and shape into a ring. Next, crack an egg into the center of the ring and whisk with a fork. Then, mix the egg into the sweet potato.

Pour flour on top of egg and sweet potato mixture. Then, mix flour into sweet potato and egg until a dough forms. Knead dough until a smooth even ball of dough remains.

Step 3: Roll and cut into gnocchi

Next, cut dough into quarters. Take one quarter of dough and place on a floured cutting board. Then, roll the dough into a long rope.

Take the rope and cut into 1″ long pieces of gnocchi. Roll each piece on a pasta board or the back of a fork. Continue this process until you have used all four quarters of the dough ball.

Step 4: Boil and pan fry the sweet potato gnocchi

Next, boil salted water. Add the gnocchi to the boiling water.

Once the gnocchi floats to the surface it is cooked. Remove floating gnocchi from the pot with a slotted spoon.

You can eat the gnocchi after it is boiled or pan fry it.

To pan fry add butter or oil to a frying pan over medium heat. Melt butter and cook the gnocchi in batches until golden brown on each side.

Cook in single layer batches as to not crowd the pan and get an even crisp.

Homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe - Grain Free + Paleo Option! (6)

How long will this homemade gnocchi recipe keep in the fridge?

I like to enjoy my gnocchi immediately after cooking. If you want to prep your gnocchi ahead of time you can prepare the dough and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before rolling into gnocchi and cooking.

Can I freeze sweet potato gnocchi?

Yes! If you want to prepare a big batch of gnocchi and freeze for later I suggest preparing the gnocchi dough, roll and cut into pieces and then freeze.

Once you are ready to enjoy your gnocchi allow it to thaw slightly on the counter and then boil and pan fry until golden brown.

Check out these other healthy comfort food recipes!

  • One Pot White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
  • Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
  • Homemade Chickarina Soup – Progresso Copycat

Homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe - Grain Free + Paleo Option! (7)

Recipe

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 6 reviews

Simple homemade sweet potato gnocchi made with 3 ingredients

Recipe By: Madeline

Prep: 1 hour 20 minutesCook: 10 minutesTotal: 1 hour 30 minutes

PrintPin itRate recipeSave recipe

Servings: 2 servings 1x

Ingredients

  • 1 medium-large sweet potato (about 1/2 lb)
  • 1 egg (can sub 1 flax egg)
  • 1/2 cup cassava flour (can sub 1 cup regular AP flour)

Instructions

  1. Peel the sweet potato and cut into large cubes
  2. Place sweet potato in a sauce pan with a little water and steam until soft enough to easily pierce with a fork – about 10 minutes
  3. Remove sweet potato from pan and place on a plate
  4. Place in the fridge for 1 hour until the sweet potato is completely cold
  5. Smash the cold sweet potato with a potato masher or the back of a fork
  6. Take 3/4 cup of the mashed sweet potato and place on a cutting board and shape into a ring (see chart below to see how you should do this)
  7. Crack an egg into the center of the ring and whisk with a fork
  8. Mix the sweet potato and egg together
  9. Pour flour on top of the sweet potato and egg mixture
  10. Mix flour into the egg and sweet potato and knead until a smooth, even dough ball remains ***If using all-purpose flour add 1/2 cup of flour to the mixture first and knead. Then, add 1/4 cup of flour at a time and continue kneading the dough until an even dough forms – you should use close to 1 cup of flour total***
  11. Cut dough ball into quarters
  12. Take one quarter and place on a floured cutting board
  13. Roll into a long tube and cut 1″ gnocchi pieces from the tube
  14. Roll each piece on a pasta board or the back of a fork
  15. Repeat this process until all 4 quarters of the dough are used
  16. Boil salted water and add gnocchi to the boiling water
  17. Once the gnocchi floats to the top it is cooked
  18. Remove the gnocchi from the pot with a slotted spoon
  19. Enjoy the gnocchi boiled or pan fry by heating butter or oil in a frying pan over medium heat and cook the gnocchi in batches until browned on all sides

Notes

If you want to freeze this dough for later I recommend freezing after you cut into gnocchi, but before you cook.

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

Homemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi Recipe - Grain Free + Paleo Option! (2024)

FAQs

Can you have sweet potatoes on paleo? ›

Yes — sweet potatoes are generally considered a paleo-approved food, however, some paleo dieters prefer to limit their consumption to avoid consuming too many carbohydrates that spike their blood sugar levels.

What is a good substitute for gnocchi? ›

Gnocchi Alternatives

For recipes that call for the gnocchi to be tossed in sauce or added to broths or soups, you can swap in a thicker-style pasta, like Orecchiette or Shells. The flavor and texture won't be quite the same, though. You will also need to adjust the cook time.

Why is my sweet potato gnocchi mushy? ›

The most common reason for mushy sweet potato gnocchi is boiling it too long; once it's floated for 30 seconds, it should be promptly removed and drained well. Drain Off as Much Water as Possible. Any water that's added to the sauce will spatter, which makes a mess (and it hurts if it gets on your hands or arms!).

What is sweet potato gnocchi made of? ›

Puree sweet potatoes using either a masher or potato ricer. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the egg. Dough: Stir salt into 1 ½ cups of flour. Sprinkle flour mixture over the sweet potato and fold to combine (do not over stir – this will lead to gluey gnocchi).

Can you eat sweet potatoes on a grain-free diet? ›

healthy grain-free products like almond flour and coconut flour. starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes, potatoes, and butternut squash. nonstarchy vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and asparagus. animal and plant-based protein sources like chicken, fish, eggs, and lentils.

Are sweet potatoes grain-free? ›

Grain-free diets are marketed to be corn- and wheat-free. They typically utilize alternative carbohydrate sources, such as sweet potato, white potato, peas, legumes and so on.

Is gnocchi more unhealthy than pasta? ›

Nutritional Value

Believe it or not, regular pasta is actually more carb-heavy than gnocchi, coming in at around 2 times the amount of carbs per serving. Gnocchi is also notorious for having a lot more sodium, with over 200 grams of it per serving. Regular pasta doesn't have nearly as high of a sodium content.

What can I substitute for flour in gnocchi? ›

It's light, doesn't fall apart, and tastes delicious! By substituting the wheat flour for chickpea flour (garbanzo bean flour) and tapioca flour (as I did for these homemade gluten-free tortillas), this vegan potato gnocchi is soft and flexible, yet firm enough not to be 'sticky.

Why is my homemade gnocchi chewy? ›

Chewy gnocchi are the result of too much flour and over kneading the dough. It's important to knead the dough just until it comes together into a smooth ball and no more. This is because you don't want to encourage too much gluten development which makes them tough, chewy and rubbery.

Who makes the best gnocchi? ›

Both Trader Joe's and Capello's sweet potato gnocchi were delicious in flavor and texture, but we like that Cappello's product offers the ability to pair with any sauce or topping.

Is gnocchi healthier than pasta? ›

pasta, neither is really the better option. Regular pasta is higher in protein and has small amounts of some nutrients, while gnocchi is lower in calories and carbohydrates. But because gnocchi is smaller and denser, it's likely that you'd end up eating bigger portions than if you were eating regular pasta.

What type of flour to use for gnocchi? ›

Type 00 vs all-purpose vs bread flour

You need to do plenty of that for homemade pizza dough, but you don't want to do much kneading at all when making gnocchi. Italian type 00 flours like Caputo and Anna brands produce a great result. Make sure you're buying 00 labeled for pasta and not labeled for pizza making.

Is gnocchi good or bad for you? ›

Similar to pasta, gnocchi is high in carbohydrates and low in protein. Although both are carbohydrate-heavy foods, it has been shown that regular pasta may have less of an effect on blood sugar levels. One publication points to the fact that pasta doesn't raise blood sugar after a meal to the level that potatoes do.

How long do sweet potato gnocchi last in the fridge? ›

To Store: In a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the pan before adding sauce. To Freeze: These Homemade Gnocchis are perfect for batch cooking as they freeze really well. I personally prefer to freeze my gnocchi after boiling.

What potatoes are allowed on a paleo diet? ›

Generally, unprocessed potatoes of all types can be part of a paleo diet. Similarly to grains, which are off-limits on paleo, potatoes are starchy and rich in carbohydrates. However, potatoes are actually a type of starchy vegetable that grows underground, known as a tuber ( 2 , 3 ).

What potatoes are best for paleo? ›

Secondly, potatoes are very low in protein and fiber, two of the most important factors in a healthy and successful paleo diet. To top it all off, white potatoes have very little in the way of vitamins and minerals. In that category, sweet potatoes are a winner, though they actually contain the same amount of carbs.

What vegetables are not allowed on the paleo diet? ›

These are beans, lentils, and peas. Legumes are not paleo because they were only introduced into the human diet about 5,000 to 7,000 years ago. Legumes are difficult to digest and can contain unhealthy fats.

Are sweet potatoes low inflammatory? ›

The beta-carotene in sweet potatoes has been shown to fight inflammation, and eating them regularly can help ease joint pain and other symptoms of inflammatory conditions like arthritis. If you're looking for a delicious way to reduce inflammation, add some sweet potatoes to a salad or bake alongside protein!

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. An Powlowski

Last Updated:

Views: 6663

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. An Powlowski

Birthday: 1992-09-29

Address: Apt. 994 8891 Orval Hill, Brittnyburgh, AZ 41023-0398

Phone: +26417467956738

Job: District Marketing Strategist

Hobby: Embroidery, Bodybuilding, Motor sports, Amateur radio, Wood carving, Whittling, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Prof. An Powlowski, I am a charming, helpful, attractive, good, graceful, thoughtful, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.