Spicy Beef & Gnocchi with Zucchini & Romano Cheese
Customer Favorite

Spicy Beef & Gnocchi

with Zucchini & Romano Cheese

25 MIN
2 Servings
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From the Test Kitchen

Plump gnocchi, ground beef, and tender zucchini get a delicious kick from Calabrian chile paste, a specialty ingredient from southern Italy known for its irresistibly sweet-hot flavor. We’re finishing it all with a bit of mascarpone cheese, which balances out the heat and provides creamy texture.

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  • Nutrition
    PER SERVING
  • Calories
    820 Cals (est.)
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fresh
ingredients
Spicy Beef & Gnocchi with Zucchini & Romano Cheese
Title
  • 10 oz Ground Beef
  • ¾ lb Gnocchi
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 1 Zucchini
  • 2 Tbsps Tomato Paste
  • 2 Tbsps Mascarpone Cheese
  • ¼ cup Grated Romano Cheese
  • 1½ tsps Calabrian Chile Paste
time-saving
tips & techniques
How To: Peel Garlic
How To: Properly Salt Cooking Water
step-by-step
instructions
Cook Along Triangle Created with Sketch.
Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the zucchini; halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. 

Brown the zucchini:
2 Brown the zucchini:

In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced zucchini in an even layer; season with salt and pepper. Cook, without stirring, 4 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Transfer to a bowl. Wipe out the pan.

Cook the beef & make the sauce:
3 Cook the beef & make the sauce:

In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the beef; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 4 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Carefully drain off and discard any excess oil. Add the chopped garlic, tomato paste, and as much of the chile paste as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined and the beef is cooked through. Add the browned zucchini and 3/4 cup of water; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened. Turn off the heat.

Cook the gnocchi:
4 Cook the gnocchi:

Meanwhile, add the gnocchi to the pot of boiling water. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until the gnocchi float to the top of the pot. Drain thoroughly.

Finish & serve your dish:
5 Finish & serve your dish:

Add the cooked gnocchi and mascarpone to the pan of cooked beef and sauce. Stir to thoroughly combine. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished beef and gnocchi garnished with the romano. Enjoy! 

Tips from Home Chefs

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Spicy Beef & Gnocchi

Prepare the ingredients:
1 Prepare the ingredients:

Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the zucchini; halve lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. 

2 Brown the zucchini:

In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sliced zucchini in an even layer; season with salt and pepper. Cook, without stirring, 4 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Transfer to a bowl. Wipe out the pan.

Brown the zucchini:
Cook the beef & make the sauce:
3 Cook the beef & make the sauce:

In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the beef; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the meat apart with a spoon, 4 to 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Carefully drain off and discard any excess oil. Add the chopped garlic, tomato paste, and as much of the chile paste as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until thoroughly combined and the beef is cooked through. Add the browned zucchini and 3/4 cup of water; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened. Turn off the heat.

4 Cook the gnocchi:

Meanwhile, add the gnocchi to the pot of boiling water. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until the gnocchi float to the top of the pot. Drain thoroughly.

Cook the gnocchi:
Finish & serve your dish:
5 Finish & serve your dish:

Add the cooked gnocchi and mascarpone to the pan of cooked beef and sauce. Stir to thoroughly combine. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished beef and gnocchi garnished with the romano. Enjoy!