cooking · budget-friendly
Pesto Gnocchi with Arugula and Kalamata Olives
From a video by Caitlin Shoemaker · 12 min watch
Pan-fried cauliflower gnocchi tossed with vegan kale cashew basil pesto, kalamata olives, and fresh arugula. A restaurant-quality meal made budget-friendly with Trader Joe's ingredients.
budget-friendlyquickvegetarianvegandairy-freeMediterranean-inspiredAmerican

Source video — Caitlin Shoemaker on YouTube
From the creator
Total time
20 minutes
Hands-on
20 minutes
Servings
~3 servingsEstimated by Unreel from the complete recipe.
Difficulty
HardEstimated by Unreel from the recipe steps — the creator didn't state this.
Extraction confidence: high
Auto-generated from the video and rewritten in our own words. Double-check quantities against the source before cooking.
Ingredients
Ingredients scaled to 3 servings
- 2 bags cauliflower gnocchi, frozen, from Trader Joe's
- arugula, to taste, or baby spinach as substitute
- 2 tbsp garlic infused olive oil, organic extra virgin
- ½ package vegan kale cashew and basil pesto, half the package
- 15 kalamata olives, about 15 olives, sliced in half (approximately 1/4 of the jar)
Preparation
- Step 1 · 0°F / -18°CAdd two tablespoons of garlic infused olive oil to a pan and bring it up to heat over medium-high heat. When the oil becomes more translucent and begins to shimmer, it's ready for the next step.Doneness — shimmering
- Step 2 · 5 minutesMake sure all the gnocchi are individual (not stuck together), then add them to the pan. Gently toss to distribute the oil evenly. Stop and let the gnocchi pan fry for about five minutes on one side without moving it with a spatula to develop a crispy, caramelized crust.Doneness — golden and caramelized
- Step 3Continue cooking the gnocchi occasionally, tossing as needed. Optionally partially cover the pan with a lid to help steam the frozen gnocchi and cook it faster. Continue until golden marks appear on multiple sides of the gnocchi.Doneness — cooked through
- Step 4Add about 15 kalamata olives that have been sliced in half, which is approximately a fourth of the jar.
- Step 5Reduce heat to medium-low and add half the package of vegan kale cashew and basil pesto. Stir until everything is evenly incorporated and the gnocchi is nicely coated.
- Step 6Add fresh arugula for a green element that balances the richness of the dish. The peppery bite of arugula complements the caramelized gnocchi and pesto. If you prefer a milder green flavor, baby spinach can be substituted instead.Doneness — wilted
- Step 7Plate the gnocchi and serve immediately. Look at those beautiful caramelized golden marks on the gnocchi.
Notes
- The gnocchi can be cooked from frozen - pan frying or baking both work well
- Partially covering the pan with a lid helps steam the frozen gnocchi and cook it faster
- Arugula adds a peppery bite that balances the richness of the caramelized gnocchi and pesto
- Baby spinach can be substituted for arugula as a milder green alternative
- This dish is described as rich, which is why it serves 3 people