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This Cauliflower Gnocchi with Crispy Zucchini and creamy Whipped Goat Cheese is a new spring and summer favorite. Homemade or store-bought Cauliflower gnocchi tossed with pan fried lemony zucchini and nutty browned butter. Serve this quick-cooking gnocchi over creamy whipped goat cheese and top with plenty of cheesy garlic breadcrumbs. Every bite is layered with delicious spring flavors. When you’re in need of an easy, colorful, and fresh dinner…make this gnocchi!
I’ve entered that time of the year when the excitement for summer builds more and more every day. This recipe is my way of showing you that I’m beyond ready for colorful produce. I’m so excited to create recipes with the warmer days in mind.
This fun gnocchi recipe was created simply with what I had in the fridge at the time. It’s quick-cooking, fun, and of course, delicious. Plus, raise your hand if you have multiple bags of Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi stashed away in your freezer?
If not cauliflower gnocchi, raise your hand if you have a ton of cauliflower, fresh or frozen, in your fridge?
Yeah, I’m guessing there are a lot of us. Cauliflower is having a true cooking “moment” and it seems as though we’re all a little obsessed. So, yes, I’m jumping on the cauliflower gnocchi bandwagon with this recipe.
But adding in all the flavor I can find. Along with plenty of creamy whipped goat cheese. Because when life gives you tubs and tubs of homemade goat cheese, you somehow find creative ways to use it. So, whipped goat cheese plus cauliflower gnocchi it is…and it’s delicious!
Let’s talk about this cauliflower gnocchi.
In full disclosure, I’ve never had the Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi before. We don’t have a Trader Joe’s around here, so I’ve never had the opportunity to buy it. That said, homemade gnocchi is pretty easy to make, so I simply made my own and added in plenty of parmesan cheese too.
I’m going to leave it up to you guys when it comes to deciding whether to make the gnocchi yourself or use TJ’s frozen gnocchi. Yes, my homemade recipe is good, but I can appreciate a quick store-bought gnocchi too. So do what works best for you and your time frame.
Either is going to be great when tossed with the fried zucchini and a bit of oily buttery sauce.
Now, on to that zucchini.
Before you do anything, make some breadcrumbs. Are these needed? Nope. But are they so delicious? YES. So pan toast the Panko breadcrumbs with garlic, parmesan, and basil. It’s very simple but adds a nice texture to the top of the gnocchi.
For the zucchini, I kept it pretty simple…ish.
The flavor comes from lots of shallots and cooking the zucchini at a high heat to give it a crisp on the outside, but soft on the inside texture. The zucchini turns buttery in the skillet and when seasoned with just a little salt, pepper, and fresh lemon, it becomes quite addicting. But that’s coming from me, the girl who loves zucchini.
Once the zucchini is pan fried, toss the gnocchi with a little butter too. As the butter cooks, it browns and then clings directly to the gnocchi leaving a subtle, nutty, buttery flavor throughout the dish. It’s not a heavy butter flavor, but lighter, which is nice for springtime.
At this point, the dish is pretty much done.
Well, almost, first whip the goat cheese.
You all know I like to add in that “extra special” finishing touch to all of my recipes.
Enter in whipped goat cheese. If you’re new to whipped goat cheese, it’s just what it sounds like. Goat cheese that’s been whipped in the food processor. It’s so creamy, light, and airy, and makes for the BEST base for gnocchi or pasta of any kind. When the warm, nutty, buttery, gnocchi is spooned over the light, creamy whipped goat cheese, the cheese melts into a sauce, mixing with the zucchini and gnocchi.
Oh my…SO GOOD!
To recap, this cauliflower gnocchi is…
…extra soft and pillowy.
…has hints of lemon and fresh herbs throughout.
…is made healthier with the addition of cauliflower.
…tossed in an addicting zucchini “sauce”.
…spooned overtop whipped goat cheese.
…and topped with crispy, garlicky breadcrumbs
Every last bite is mouth-watering. And that’s really all you need to know…enjoy some springtime gnocchi!
Looking for a few other gnocchi ideas? Try these…
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Herbed White Wine Pan Sauce
Skillet Baked Creamy Pesto Spinach and Artichoke Gnocchi
Sunday Night Gnocchi Bolognese Bake
Lastly, if you make this cauliflower gnocchi with crispy zucchini and whipped goat cheese, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Cauliflower Gnocchi with Crispy Zucchini and Whipped Goat Cheese
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 478 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
- 1 pound cauliflower or potato gnocchi, homemade or store-bought
- 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced
- 2 zucchini or yellow summer squash, thinly sliced
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (or 2 teaspoons dried thyme)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest and 1 tablespoon juice
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 8 ounces goat cheese or feta cheese
- fresh basil, dill, and or chives, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the garlic, the breadcrumbs, and basil. Cook, stirring occasionally until the breadcrumbs are toasted all over, about 3 minutes. Add the cheese and cook another 2 minutes, until fried. Remove the breadcrumbs from the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Set the breadcrumbs aside.2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the gnocchi until they float to the top and are cooked through, about 3-4 minutes. Drain.3. Place the skillet back over medium heat. Add the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and the shallots. Cook until the shallots begin to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Add the zucchini and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until the zucchini has caramelized and is golden brown, 5-8 minutes. Add the butter, the thyme, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes. Cook until the butter begins to brown, 3-4 minutes. Drop the gnocchi into the sauce, gently tossing to combine. Remove from the heat. 4. To make the goat cheese, combine the goat cheese, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and the lemon juice in a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. The cheese can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. 5. Spread the goat cheese into the bottom of each individual serving bowl. Spoon the gnocchi and sauce over the cheese. Top with breadcrumbs and herbs. Scoop the gnocchi up with the goat cheese and the sauce. EAT and ENJOY.
Cauliflower Gnocchi
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 160 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 4-5 cups cauliflower florets (about 16 ounces)
- 3/4-1 cup all-purpose flour, use more as needed (or use GF flour blend)
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add cauliflower florets and cook until tender, 10 minutes. Drain well. Lay the cauliflower on a kitchen towel and squeeze out the excess liquid. 2. Add the cauliflower to a food processor, pulse until smooth (or simply mash well with a fork). Add the cups of flour, parmesan, and salt. Stir the mixture until just combined. If the dough seems wet, add a tablespoon of flour at a time, until it can be formed into a ball. The dough should be sticky.3. Generously flour a clean counter and scrape the dough out onto it. Cut the dough into four equal sections. Working with one section of dough at a time, roll the dough into a rope about 1 inch thick and cut into bite-size pieces. Repeat this process with the other sections of dough. Place the gnocchi on a baking sheet that has been dusted with flour. At this point, the gnocchi can be kept covered in the fridge for up to 1 day and then boiled just before you are ready to eat. Or boiled right away.
This was great, would definitely make again! I added corn to take advantage of the summer produce availability and I think it really added to the dish. The breadcrumbs were delicious, I could’ve gobbled them up with a spoon straight from the pan.
Hey Perri,
Wonderful! Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
I have made this recipe twice now it is so amazing. The second time I didn’t have any of the cheese or the breadcrumbs and it still was IMMENSELY delicious. More like this please and THANK YOU!! 🙂
Hey Mary,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
This was amazing!!! Loved the lemon and goat cheese..and so did my husband.❤️
Hey Trish,
I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xxTieghan
Super tasty, I made this with regular store-bought gnocchi and it came out wonderful. I will definitely make this again. I’m not the biggest courgette fan, but really enjoyed this combination and how it caramelised with the shallot. Mmmmh.
Hey Hanna,
I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xxTieghan
This was SO SO GOOD! Between the tangy-ness of the lemon & goat cheese with the sweetness of the semi-caramelized shallots & the nuttiness of the browned butter… and that CRUNCH of the breadcrumbs/fresh herbs? *chef’s kiss*
Hey Erin,
Happy Friday! I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
This looks delicious. Do you have any recommendations for adding more protein to it? Something that would fit well with the dish overall?
Hey Kristin,
I think ground sausage would work well here. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Omg this was sooooo good!! I came across this recipe because I bought gnocchi and needed some new ideas. We had all of the ingredients on hand so this was perfect! This is such a quick and easy recipe and my family LOVED it. Your recipes never disappoint, thank you!! (We make at least 2-3 of your recipes every week now!!)
Hey Heather,
I am thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
Hmmmm not sure where I went wrong on this. Unfortunately the gnocchi turned out so mushy it was awful. I did use GF flour so maybe that had something to do with it. The sauce was delicious though, so I ended up making regular pasta to go with it.
Hi Deborah! I am sorry about that! I am glad you liked this with some regular pasta. Is there anything I can help with? xTieghan
Really enjoyed this recipe. One minor issue. The zucchini never got crispy. Perhaps the heat was not high enough, but the shallots were fully cooked and closing in on burning, so I had to move on. Perhaps my zucchini slices were not thin enough. All in all, it was great. The bread crumbs brought a wonderful crispiness to the meal, so it was fine that the zucchini were more sautéed than crispy. Would definitely do this recipe again.
I am so happy this recipe turned out so well for you Pat! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
Can you make the gnocchi ahead of time and freeze them?
Hey Angela,
Yes you sure can! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Loved it. It was so delicious. Thanks Tieghan for the recipe.
Thank you so much Sunitha! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Hi
Can I use almond or Coconut flour instead of regular all purpose flour? Also 4-5 cups of cauliflower is about 1 medium cauliflower or more/less?
Tnx!
Hey Ravit,
I would not recommend using almond or coconut flour, I would stick with the all purpose or you could use an equal amount of GF flour. Yes I would say about 1 medium or large cauliflower head. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi!
Do you think whole wheat flour would work?
Hey Sarah,
I’ve not tested this recipe with whole wheat flour, but it should workout well for you. I hope the recipe turns out amazing, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I wish I used cheese cloth to completely drain the water from the boiled cauliflower. Since the direction was to use the paper towel to squeeze the excessive water, there was still water left and I needed to add more then required flour. The end product was still good but less flavor of the cauliflower. Still can’t believe I made gnocchi from the scratch. I love using your recipes. Thank you for making my life easy by making easy and tasty recipes.
Hi Shanti! I am sorry about that! I am glad this still turned out well for you! xTieghan
The gnocchi is great (followed the recipe to make it from scratch) but the breadcrumb mixture is a disaster..is the zucchini supposed to be cooked before throwing it into the breadcrumb mixture? Because the breadcrumbs were burning way faster than the zucchini was cooking 🙁 And mine wasn’t a sauce at all…I ended up picking the zucchini slices out and frying them on another skillet, then transfering them back to the breadcrumb mixture. i think next time i’ll just skip the breadcrumbs and make a creamy sauce with the goat cheese and basil.
Hey Maral,
I am so sorry for the confusion and that you had issues with the recipe! So, in step 1 you are adding the parmesan cheese with the breadcrumbs and then removing at the end so your skillet is now empty. Step 3 is when you will cook the zucchini with the shallots, so the breadcrumbs are not in the pan at this point. When you make the goat cheese in step 4 this is separate in the food processor. After you assemble your plate then you top with the breadcrumbs. So the breadcrumbs are never cooked with the zucchini. I hope this clears things up for you, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
SO SO SO GOOD! Every bite is heaven in my mouth! Thanks for sharing the recipe! (I subbed in ricotta instead of goat cheese and it was so creamy and delicious!)
Wow yes!! I am so glad you loved this recipe, Katie! Thank you! xTieghan