Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Whiskey Cream Sauce

A worth-while labor of love, AKA Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Whiskey Cream Sauce.

Human beings are fairly predictable. We generally do things for others, for one of two reasons, to GIVE or to GET.

It doesn’t really matter what the action is; giving or getting is always the underlying motivation.

Sadly it’s most common to give in order to get. If you watch people closely you can usually read their intentions. They are after title, promotion, acceptance, favors, money. Their smiles and efforts are alluring, but their agenda is purely selfish.

Yet if you don’t lose hope, along the way, people will surprise you!

As a parent, you get to watch this glorious development in your children. For the first several years, they only give to get. They want instant gratification.

When it isn’t available, tantrum!

Then slowly, they learn to give for the sake of giving. They offer a plucked garden flower, simply because they know it will make you happy. They mention you in their bedtime prayers, protective of mommy and daddy. They share candy or a trinket with a friend who doesn’t have any.

Beautiful.

Offering words, time, affection, a listening ear, even money, for the sole purpose of giving, is truly divine.

Sometimes it feels like a sacrifice in the process, but when you look back on it, and see the impact your gift has made on others, the reward is rich.

When you offer a gift to someone and receive no personal benefit, it restores faith in the recipient’s heart.

Homemade gnocchi is this kind of gift…

It is not quick.

It is not (terribly) easy.

It takes time, determination and patience.

Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Whiskey Cream Sauce is a labor of love.

These tiny melt-in-your-mouth pillows of heaven are a simple act of giving.

Gnocchi shows anyone you serve them to, that they are special. They are worth your time and effort. Not because you want something from them, but because you love them!

I can’t think of another pasta that offers such sublime flavor and delicate texture as Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Whiskey Cream Sauce. The Whiskey Cream Sauce is spectacular in its own right.

Silky. Robust. A perfect coating for the most luxurious of pastas!

Make Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Whiskey Cream Sauce for someone you love, just because. (But give yourself ample time to prepare it!)

The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving. ~Albert Einstein

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Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Whiskey Cream Sauce

Prep Time: 1 hour hour

Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 55 minutes minutes

Rustic, yet luxurious, Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Whiskey Cream Sauce Recipe!

Servings: 6

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

• 1 small butternut squash, about 1 pound
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg, cinnamon, or ginger
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Pepper to taste
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 shallots, finely diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup bourbon
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh thyme leaves for garnish

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Cut the squash in half. Remove the seeds and lay on an oiled, rimmed baking sheet. Roast the squash until soft, 30-40 minutes. Scoop the flesh of the squash out and place it in the food processor. Puree until completely smooth.
• Mix the pureed squash with parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt, pepper and eggs. Then add the flour into the mixture and work together by hand. It will be very sticky.
• Once smooth, flour a work surface and a large piece of parchment paper. Flour your hands and grab a handful of dough. Roll into a long rope, about ½-inch wide. Cut the rope into ½-inch pieces.
• Place each piece in the palm of your floured hand (or on the cutting board) and gently roll with a fork to create ridges. Place each piece on the floured parchment paper and repeat with the rest of the dough.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Boil half the gnocchi, then remove and repeat. With each batch, boil until all the gnocchi floats, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat another large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and 2 tablespoons flour, whisk until smooth. Then add the shallots and garlic. Saute for 3 minutes. Then add the bourbon and chicken stock.
• Whisk and raise heat. Bring the sauce to a boil. Allow the sauce to reduce down to a thin gravy-like consistency. Then lower the heat to medium-low and add the cream. Salt and pepper to taste—usually about 1 teaspoon of salt.
• Once the gnocchi are finished cooking, remove them with a skimmer and place them directly into the cream sauce. Stir to coat. Serve the gnocchi warm and garnish with fresh thyme leaves.

Notes

NOTE: If the cream sauce thickens too much, add a little water from the gnocchi pot to thin it out.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 512kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 146mg, Sodium: 1068mg, Potassium: 900mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 20710IU, Vitamin C: 41.6mg, Calcium: 270mg, Iron: 2.3mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

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