Healthy Smoked Salmon Gnocchi (Printable)

A flavorful pasta featuring soft gnocchi, silky smoked salmon, and a fresh herb sauce with greens.

# What You Need:

→ Gnocchi

01 - 1.1 lbs whole wheat or potato gnocchi, store-bought or homemade

→ Sauce & Vegetables

02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
05 - 3.5 oz baby spinach, roughly chopped
06 - 3.4 fl oz low-fat crème fraîche or Greek yogurt
07 - Zest and juice of 1 lemon
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Smoked Salmon

10 - 5.3 oz smoked salmon, sliced into strips

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
12 - Extra lemon wedges

# How To Make:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook according to package instructions, until they float to the surface (about 2–3 minutes). Drain and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and shallot, sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
03 - Add spinach and cook, stirring, until just wilted, about 1 minute.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in crème fraîche (or Greek yogurt), lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper, and half the dill.
05 - Add cooked gnocchi to the skillet, tossing gently to coat in the sauce. Warm through for 1–2 minutes.
06 - Remove from heat. Fold in smoked salmon strips—let residual heat warm the salmon without overcooking.
07 - Divide among plates. Sprinkle with remaining dill and chives. Serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of pillowy gnocchi and smoky salmon feels luxurious without being heavy
  • Ready in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent all afternoon cooking
  • The bright lemon and fresh herbs cut through the richness perfectly
02 -
  • Never boil the smoked salmon or it becomes tough and loses its delicate texture
  • The sauce will thicken slightly as it sits off the heat, so dont over-reduce
  • Whole wheat gnocchi takes slightly longer to float than potato varieties
03 -
  • Pat the smoked salmon with paper towels if it seems excessively moist
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly into the sauce
  • A microplane makes the most of your lemon zest, releasing all those aromatic oils

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