Amalfi Sunset Gnocchi

  Pumpkin Gnocchi

    The evening air is warm with the breeze coming off the ocean. The sky is a beautiful orange with streaks of red running as far as the eye can see. There's a slight smell of lemons in the background lingering around us as we sit at a little table on the edge of a balcony hanging over the rest of the little town, perched on the cliffs overlooking the dark blue waters of the sea. Lightly playing overhead is a soft accordion gently inviting you to relax and enjoy the moment. Just then, our little older waiter in his neatly pressed white shirt and black tie approaches. He gingerly crosses his hands, smiles, and eyes us sitting at his table and you notice before he even opens his mouth, he is wondering if he should attempt his English, or begin in his native tongue.

"Buona notte e Benvenuto!"

  

He pauses and then continues.

  

"Welcome, would you to hear our special tonight?"

  

"Grazie signore, per favore!"

  

He delights in our attempt at communicating in his own language but perseveres in ours.

  

“You see the sky this evening is a beautiful red and orange as the sun delves slowly below the horizon of the Mediterranean. It gracefully dances a slow dance with the waves for your enjoyment. We have taken fresh ingredients from our garden, the red pepper, harvested pumpkin, and fresh garlic, and have added fresh made this afternoon gnocchi and shrimp brought in from the boats this morning. Gently sauté those all together into a beautiful plate of enjoyment that represents the sunset you see before you.”

 Myself, I am sold on what sounds like an interesting combination of flavors. Who would have thought combining peppers and pumpkin with fresh shrimp into a sauce and toss in some fresh made gnocchi would be an amazing dish to enjoy. Si, let's do this...…

  

This dish was one I had in Positano this past summer and found it to be an amazing dish that I just had to recreate once I returned home to the States. Enjoy!. Amalfi Sunset Gnocchi.

Ingredients:

• Shrimp
• Gnocchi
• Olive oil
• 1 roasted red pepper
• 3 tbs pumpkin puree
• 1 tbs tomato sauce
• 1 clove diced garlic
• Juice 1 small lemon
• Diced fresh parsley

1. In a large saute pan drizzle the olive oil and sauté the red pepper and garlic until fragrant.

2. Toss in the shrimp and cook until pink.

3. Mix in the pumpkin puree, tomato sauce, and lemon juice.

4. Cook Gnocchi as normally would and stir into the sauce/shrimp mixture.

5. Serve with fresh parsley sprinkled on top.

This dish was so good. The interesting combination of flavors with the pumpkin is something I would never have thought would be good.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2+