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)

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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

Are sweet potatoes allowed on the paleo diet? ›

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 substitute for all purpose flour in gnocchi? ›

Chickpea flour: Also called garbanzo bean flour. This flour is protein-dense and packed with vitamins and minerals. Tapioca flour: Also called tapioca starch. Alternatively, use arrowroot flour or cornstarch, though I've had the best results with tapioca.

What protein goes with sweet potato gnocchi? ›

If you prefer a lighter meal, serve the gnocchi alongside a fall-inspired salad like Beet Salad Recipe or Apple Walnut Salad. Chicken. Add some protein to your dinner with Baked Chicken Breast or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.

What is a good potato substitute for gnocchi? ›

At Faro, Adey says, “We run very few potato gnocchi.” Instead they stick to the less common side of the root vegetable family: “Parsnip, gilfeather turnip, and salsify work great.” Broccoli and cauliflower, which are sturdy and dry, also hold up well to the test.

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

Fruits and Vegetables

Pasta can be replaced with veggie noodles, traditional rice can be swapped out for cauliflower rice and any starchy vegetable like the sweet potato is an excellent source of complex carbohydrates.

Are sweet potatoes grain free? ›

Sweet Potatoes are fiber-rich superfoods which help support healthy digestion. They are a tasty option that's naturally gluten-free.

What is the best flour for gnocchi? ›

Italian flour

Plus, it has too much protein: High-protein wheat results in chewy gnocchi. If you want to be true to Italian gnocchi, look for imported Italian flour marked "00 tenero," which is milled from soft wheat with a low protein content.

What type of flour is best for making gnocchi? ›

Tipo 00 Flour is a soft, fine milled flour from Italy. It's a must-have for light and tender gnocchi and homemade pasta. Small(er) Batch Recipe ensures a higher success rate with just enough practice.

Why is my homemade gnocchi soggy? ›

Your gnocchi may be mushy because of any or all of the following reasons: boiled the potatoes instead of baked them. used waxy new potatoes with too much moisture in them. not used eggs to help texture.

What is the best store bought sweet potato gnocchi? ›

Best Sweet Potato Gnocchi: Cappello's Sweet Potato 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. (Trader Joe's version comes with an already mixed-in butter and sage sauce.)

Why is my sweet potato gnocchi dough sticky? ›

If dough is too sticky, add more flour and knead it in. I like to knead my gnocchi dough until it is fairly stiff — this part is up to you. I prefer a somewhat toothsome gnocchi, but if you want yours to be lighter in texture, knead just until your dough resembles pizza dough.

Is gnocchi better with or without egg? ›

Egg yolk added to your gnocchi dough helps improve texture, and keep it together while cooking. Gnocchi is traditionally made with eggs in Veneto and no eggs in Piedmont, the two Northern Italian regions famous for gnocchi. We vote for egg yolks at the rate of 1 per (500g) 1 lb of uncooked potatoes used.

Is gnocchi better or worse 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 kind of potatoes can you eat on paleo? ›

Sweet potatoes are the only potato that is considered paleo,” explains Evans. “Sweet potatoes have a much lower glycemic index so while they have a similar amount of carbohydrates, their impact on blood sugar and insulin is much lower, which is a goal of eating paleo.”

What kind of potatoes are paleo friendly? ›

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? ›

However, others say these potato varieties are paleo. That's because, like white potatoes, red and purple potatoes are unprocessed whole foods—which, by definition, makes them paleo. These potatoes are also nutritious.

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.

References

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