This recipe marries the bold flavours of tomato and red pesto with the creamy texture of vegan cream cheese, creating a sauce that's both lush and tangy. With the foundation of umami from shallots and garlic, and a refreshing hit of lemon juice, the sauce perfectly complements the tender gnocchi. Each bite offers a balance of savoury depth and bright acidity, making for a dish that's rich in taste and satisfying in texture.
Add the oil, shallots and garlic to a medium pot, and cook until lightly golden.
Add the tomatoes and pesto, and cook for 5 - 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the gnocchi according to the package instructions. For us this took 2 minutes. Then drain.
Heat some oil a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the drained gnocchi to the pan and cook until lightly golden on the outside. Cook in batches if necessary to not over-crowd the pan.
Returning to the sauce, add in the cream cheese, salt, and pepper. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth*.
Transfer the tomato sauce to the sauté pan containing the gnocchi. Squeeze over the lemon juice, and stir to coat.
Plate, garnish as desired, and enjoy!
Notes
* Alternatively, blend in a standing blender.
Storage
The gnocchi is best enjoyed freshly made.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day - any longer and the gnocchi tends to become overly firm. Ideally, reheat in a pan with a splash of water to loosen the sauce and gnocchi up.
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Plate method
The Plate Method is a visual tool that helps us ensure our dietary needs are on track. Touch the image below to see how this recipe measures up.
Grains & Starches 80%
• uncooked vegan gnocchi
Proteins 0%
Fruits & Veggies 20%
• medium shallot
• garlic clove
• canned whole peeled tomatoes
• lemon
Calcium
No significant sources of calcium
Fat
• vegetable oil
• plain vegan cream cheese
• vegetable oil
Nutrition per
serving
Calories 543 kcal
Total fat
34.8 g
Omega-3
0.2 g
Omega-6
5.8 g
Saturated fat
14.5 g
Trans fat
0.0 g
Cholesterol
0.0 mg
Total carbs
53.0 g
Dietary fiber
6.6 g
Total sugars
9.4 g
Added sugars
0.0 g
Protein
9.2 g
Sodium
1215 mg
Iron
3.32 mg
Potassium
781.6 mg
Calcium
156.5 mg
Magnesium
57.8 mg
Zinc
1.09 mg
Copper
0.46 mg
Manganese
0.57 mg
Phosphorus
154.6 mg
Selenium
13 μg
Vitamin A
167 μg RAE
Vitamin B6
0.5 mg
Vitamin B12
0 μg
Vitamin C
37.0 mg
Vitamin D
0 μg
Vitamin E
4.6 mg
Vitamin K
17 μg
Folate
94 μg
Thiamin
1.1 mg
Riboflavin
0.5 mg
Niacin
4.4 mg
Choline
40.8 mg
Nutrition info
Focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food.
Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul.
For specific nutrition needs due to a medical condition, consult a dietitian or physician.
While we strive to provide accurate nutritional information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. See our disclaimer for details.
LOVE the sauce - I make it with spaghetti too. I add some sundried tomato pieces to it, really delicious!
Reply
Chrysiida - Sept. 17, 2024, 2:39 p.m.
First time making gnocchi with a red sauce and though my father was cautious of how it would turn out, I loved the end result! I also hadn't tried red pesto before and I really liked it! I am definitely going to use it again in future recipes!
PUL Team - Sept. 17, 2024, 10:07 p.m.
Aw how exciting, Chrysiida, thanks for sharing your experience with the gnocchi with red pesto 🤗
Reply
Gaby - Sept. 1, 2024, 2:49 a.m.
This was my first time trying a recipe from the app and it was so good! I loved it❤️ the app is super user friendly, even the option to set up a timer is a nice detail to have 😄
Reply
Ira - June 10, 2024, 5:10 p.m.
Great recipe for a weekday dinner! Thank you!
Reply
Rob - May 25, 2024, 9:26 p.m.
I needed a quick tea this evening, so thought we would try this. Finding gnocchi without milk took longer than cooking this! So quick and simple, but so tasty! I love that most of the ingredients can be store cupboard staples too. We had this with a salad for some greens and the two of us finished off the three portions, so good!
PUL Team - May 25, 2024, 9:35 p.m.
Hey Rob, thanks for taking the time to share your experience with the gnocchi! So glad that it was enjoyed with the salad 🤌
Reply
Regina Török - May 21, 2024, 9:57 p.m.
Tasty!
Reply
Renáta Varga - May 12, 2024, 1:20 p.m.
So easy to make ❤️ thank you
Reply
Nikos - May 10, 2024, 6:36 p.m.
Tasty and easy!
Reply
Kirsten - May 6, 2024, 8:52 p.m.
Super delicious gnocchi recipe! We’re not vegan, but we love this as a vegetarian option. We do use ‘normal’ gnocchi and pesto. But I don’t think it makes a big difference in taste. We will make this recipe again for sure!
Reply
Csenge Berta-Jenei - May 2, 2024, 12:43 p.m.
It was so delicious. I also threw in some sliced grilled sausages, it was leftovers from the party. :)
Reply
Astrid - April 23, 2024, 5:54 p.m.
Made this recipe with normal pasta and gnocchi but I definitely recommend to use the gnocchi :)!!! Sauce is delicious.
Reply
Nova - April 22, 2024, 8:21 p.m.
Amazing flavour! ❤️ For protein I added red lentils which worked great. Next time I would also add some fresh crisp bell pepper or similar for some texture variety! 🫶🏻
PUL Team - April 22, 2024, 10:47 p.m.
Mmm love these ideas, Nova, thank you! ☺️
Reply
shawna - April 14, 2024, 8:51 p.m.
so saucy we loved it!!!
Reply
Martina - April 12, 2024, 7:53 p.m.
This recipe was sooo lovely! It's like the vegan version of "gnocchi alla sorrentina". I'll surely cook this again. :)
PUL Team - April 13, 2024, 4:37 a.m.
Yayy so happy to hear the gnocchi was enjoyed, Martina 😊
Reply
José - April 9, 2024, 6:50 p.m.
I LOVE it!!! The lemon really surprised me how well it tastes in this dish. And it is super easy too😍
Reply
Charlotte - April 8, 2024, 11:26 p.m.
This was an outstanding meal! Such a delicious yet straightforward recipe that didn't take long to make! There was the perfect ratio of sauce to gnocchi and frying them before adding to the sauce was the best tip ever.
PUL Team - April 8, 2024, 11:53 p.m.
So thrilled that you enjoyed the gnocchi, Charlotte!
Reply
bea - April 7, 2024, 6:52 p.m.
so so yummy!!
Reply
Nelleke - April 2, 2024, 10:12 p.m.
So good!
Reply
clara - April 2, 2024, 4:01 p.m.
SO YUMMYYY!!!
Reply
Joanna - April 2, 2024, 11:01 a.m.
I lovee it so much! This is awesome!
Reply
l. tien - March 31, 2024, 12:55 p.m.
My boyfriend and I loved this!
Reply
Kia - March 30, 2024, 8:14 p.m.
Absolutely delicious. Can't find store bought vegan pesto here and being allergic to milk I made my own, using PUL recipe, but forgot basil so had to replace it with kale. Worked absolute wonders. Sauce is delicious. I need to work a bit on my gnocchi frying skills. Leftover sauce for pizza or pasta. Used Philadelphia plant based cheese, worked amazing.
PUL Team - April 1, 2024, 8:29 a.m.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Kia, and thanks a bunch for sharing your experience with it! 😊
Reply
Summer - March 30, 2024, 6:41 p.m.
I've never fried gnocchi before but I'm going to do it forever from now on! Loved how creamy the sauce was too! I'll be making this again for sure :D
PUL Team - March 31, 2024, 7:30 a.m.
Yayy so glad that you enjoyed it, Summer! Happy cooking 🫶
Reply
anke - March 30, 2024, 12:59 p.m.
So delicious!!!
Reply
Chris - March 29, 2024, 4:16 p.m.
So quick to make and so delicious I licked my plate clean, no shame.
Reply
Lise - March 28, 2024, 6:34 p.m.
This seems like a great recipe! Which cream cheese do you use/recommend? I'm from the Netherlands and I think you live there too. :)
PUL Team - March 29, 2024, 4:15 p.m.
Hey Lise, we use the Violife brand (Creamy Original). I hope you enjoy the recipe if you give it a try!
Discussion & Rating
LOVE the sauce - I make it with spaghetti too. I add some sundried tomato pieces to it, really delicious!
First time making gnocchi with a red sauce and though my father was cautious of how it would turn out, I loved the end result! I also hadn't tried red pesto before and I really liked it! I am definitely going to use it again in future recipes!
This was my first time trying a recipe from the app and it was so good! I loved it❤️ the app is super user friendly, even the option to set up a timer is a nice detail to have 😄
Great recipe for a weekday dinner!
Thank you!
I needed a quick tea this evening, so thought we would try this. Finding gnocchi without milk took longer than cooking this! So quick and simple, but so tasty! I love that most of the ingredients can be store cupboard staples too. We had this with a salad for some greens and the two of us finished off the three portions, so good!
Tasty!
So easy to make ❤️ thank you
Tasty and easy!
Super delicious gnocchi recipe! We’re not vegan, but we love this as a vegetarian option. We do use ‘normal’ gnocchi and pesto. But I don’t think it makes a big difference in taste. We will make this recipe again for sure!
It was so delicious. I also threw in some sliced grilled sausages, it was leftovers from the party. :)
Made this recipe with normal pasta and gnocchi but I definitely recommend to use the gnocchi :)!!! Sauce is delicious.
Amazing flavour! ❤️ For protein I added red lentils which worked great. Next time I would also add some fresh crisp bell pepper or similar for some texture variety! 🫶🏻
so saucy we loved it!!!
This recipe was sooo lovely! It's like the vegan version of "gnocchi alla sorrentina". I'll surely cook this again. :)
I LOVE it!!! The lemon really surprised me how well it tastes in this dish. And it is super easy too😍
This was an outstanding meal! Such a delicious yet straightforward recipe that didn't take long to make! There was the perfect ratio of sauce to gnocchi and frying them before adding to the sauce was the best tip ever.
so so yummy!!
So good!
SO YUMMYYY!!!
I lovee it so much! This is awesome!
My boyfriend and I loved this!
Absolutely delicious.
Can't find store bought vegan pesto here and being allergic to milk I made my own, using PUL recipe, but forgot basil so had to replace it with kale. Worked absolute wonders. Sauce is delicious. I need to work a bit on my gnocchi frying skills.
Leftover sauce for pizza or pasta.
Used Philadelphia plant based cheese, worked amazing.
I've never fried gnocchi before but I'm going to do it forever from now on! Loved how creamy the sauce was too! I'll be making this again for sure :D
So delicious!!!
So quick to make and so delicious I licked my plate clean, no shame.
This seems like a great recipe! Which cream cheese do you use/recommend? I'm from the Netherlands and I think you live there too. :)