Vegan Butter GNOCCHI with Sage Leaves (Fresh & Fried)

Gnocchi with fresh sage, crispy fried sage chips, and a generous heap of vegan butter—so much texture, so much flavor! Simple yet bold, a classic Italian dream dish.

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Gnocchi and sage have always been a match made in heaven. Italians have known it for ages and used these simple ingredients to make their tasty traditional quick meal Gnocchi Burro Salvia (gnocchi with sage butter).

It’s perfectly ok to replace butter with a mix of olive oil and vegan butter, but this is not the only change I made to the classic recipe. I like serving gnocchi with both fresh sage AND crispy fried sage leaves to get the most out of this spectacularly scenting and tasting herb.

If you haven’t eaten crispy fried sage leaves sprinkled with a bit of salt yet, you are so, so in for a treat! This crunchy goodness is fast and easy to make - you just fry sage leaves in hot oil for a couple of minutes. It’s a perfect little snack on its own, and superb with gnocchi.

A Word About Gnocchi

Gnocchi make me happy, of course, they do. How could they not? They are funny little bite-sized pieces so easy to eat, they taste gorgeous, and are versatile. Apart from sage, you can also pair gnocchi with a tomato sauce, a green pesto, or just eat them with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.

An additional benefit is that they are fast and easy to prepare. You either boil them in salt water or fry them in a bit of oil for a couple of minutes. The cooking instructions on the package will tell you if the gnocchi need cooking or frying.

If you’re going to use cooked gnocchi for this recipe, you’ll get a lighter and creamier dish, so go for it if this is what you’re craving. Otherwise fry your gnocchi for a crispier and crunchier experience. 

You can easily make gnocchi at home, but I usually don't bother because store-bought gnocchi are really good. I prefer organic ones, and if I can find some made by an Italian company (like Probios gnocchi), I'll definitely choose those – they never disappoint. Plus, the Probios gnocchi are gluten-free, and you can't even tell because they are crafted so well. The brand also offers whole-grain vegan gnocchi that taste amazing, but sadly, I've only seen them in Italy, not in Germany.

Speaking of gluten-intolerance: If you need to be careful about it, there's a good chance you can find gluten-free gnocchi at the store (or online) because many brands offer them, not just Probios.

Additional Ingredients You'll Need

Apart from gnocchi, these are the main ingredients you'll need:

• A beautiful bunch of sage
  You'll need a couple of sprigs of sage, with about 15 large leaves for frying. Also, set aside a small handful of fresh leaves to tear and mix into the dish at the end.

• Olive oil
  A good-quality olive oil is essential, but make sure it’s suitable for frying. This is the primary oil we’ll use to fry the sage leaves and, if you prefer, to crisp up the gnocchi.

• Nutritional yeast flakes
  Just 2 tablespoons are needed. These will give the dish a delicious, parmesan-like aroma.

• Vegan butter or butter-flavored oil
  We have the gnocchi, the sage, and the vegan (when using vegan gnocchi). What's left is the butter part in our "vegan butter gnocchi with sage" recipe. So, the final touch to our recipe is the butter-like flavor: We'll add vegan butter at the end to finish the dish. Alternatively, you can use rapeseed oil with a butter flavor (commonly known as Swedish Alba oil), which is a popular option in Germany, though other brands are available, such as Rapsgold Rapsöl and the organic brand Teutoburger Rapskernöl.

How to Serve Vegan Butter Gnocchi With Sage

You can serve up your buttery gnocchi with a fresh, simple green salad for a classic vibe. Or, let’s be real, on those lazier nights, just slice up some tomatoes or cucumbers and call it a day. If you're feeling a little extra, a side of tangy sauerkraut or punchy kimchi would totally take this to the next level.

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Vegan Butter Gnocchi with Sage Leaves (Both Fresh & Fried)

A vegan butter gnocchi dish with both fresh sage leaves and crispy fried sage chips! Delicious, hearty comfort food that will entice you to overindulge.

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: 3

Ingredients

• 1 large bunch of sage 15 large leaves for frying + a generous handful of smaller leaves
• 5 tablespoons olive oil for frying
• 700 g vegan gnocchi check store-bought varieties for eggs, especially fresh ones from the fridge section
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon vegan butter or butter-flavored oil like Swedish Alba oil

Instructions

• Strip the sage leaves from their stems and rinse well under running water. Set aside 15 large leaves for frying and chop the smaller leaves finely for later.
• Pat the large leaves dry using a kitchen towel—I like to place them between two towels and press gently to remove excess water. They must be dry to prevent splattering during frying.
• Heat 5 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan. Lay the large sage leaves flat in the pan without overlapping. Fry for 1–2 minutes per side, keeping a close eye on them—they should crisp up while staying green. Burnt leaves turn brown and lose their sage aroma. Remove the crispy leaves, place them on a paper towel, and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
• Cook or fry the gnocchi according to the package instructions. If you're frying the gnocchi, you can use the same pan and oil you used for frying the sage leaves.
• Toss the gnocchi with the chopped fresh sage, vegan butter (or butter-flavored oil), and nutritional yeast. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the gnocchi topped with the crispy sage leaves.

Let me know what you think. Would you use both fried sage and fresh leaves?

Wishing you planty of crispy comfort food delights,
Ramona

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