Brown Butter Sage Gnocchi (Printable)

Pan-fried potato gnocchi in nutty brown butter with crispy sage, Parmesan and a hint of lemon.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Gnocchi

01 - 500 g fresh potato gnocchi (store-bought or homemade)

→ Brown Butter Sage Sauce

02 - 75 g unsalted butter
03 - 20 fresh sage leaves
04 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced (optional)
05 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ To Serve

06 - 30 g grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
07 - Zest of 1 small lemon (optional)

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook until they float to the surface, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the gnocchi to a plate and pat dry with paper towels.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the sage leaves. Cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter foams, turns golden brown, and the sage becomes crispy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the minced garlic, if using, and cook for 30 seconds.
03 - Add the cooked, dried gnocchi to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high and pan-fry for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gnocchi are golden and slightly crisp.
04 - Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat, then toss with grated Parmesan and lemon zest (if using).
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and sage leaves.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The rich scent of browning butter and sizzling sage is the kind of secret that makes guests think you've done something far more complicated than you actually have.
  • This dish comes together faster than you can uncork a bottle of wine, which is part of why it keeps sneaking onto my weeknight menu (and impressing every time).
02 -
  • If you forget to dry the gnocchi after boiling, they won't crisp up in the skillet, no matter how hot it is.
  • Letting the butter go just a moment browner than you think you should rewards you with deep, toasty flavor—don't rush it.
03 -
  • Dry the gnocchi well after boiling or they'll just go soggy—this one step changes everything.
  • Browning the butter slowly and swirling the pan makes it taste more complex and prevents burning.
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