Cheesy Gnocchi Traybake

Elevate your weekly pasta dish with this super cheesy gnocchi bake. The tofu ‘ricotta’ only takes 5 minutes and packs a protein punch.

Gluten free
Wheat free
Freezable
Kids recipe

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Preparation time

15 min

Cook time

30 min

Total time

45

Cuisine

Italian

Meal

  • mains
  • lunches

Servings

4

Ingredients

5 minute ‘ricotta’ 

  • 35g/¼ cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
  • 425g/15 oz firm tofu, drained and patted dry
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • 20g/⅓ cup nutritional yeast

Gnocchi bake

  • 1 x 400g/14 oz tin chopped tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée
  • 100ml/½ cup boiling water
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp sugar or 2 tsp syrup (eg maple or agave)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 500g/18 oz cherry tomatoes
  • 150g/5 oz spinach
  • 700g/25 oz gnocchi (use gluten-free if needed)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 15 fresh basil leaves, stalks removed
  • 200g/2 cups vegan cheese, grated
  • 5 tbsp vegan Parmesan (optional)
  • Olive oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan)/350°F/Gas Mark 5.

5 minute ‘ricotta’ 

  1. Blend the sunflower seeds in a food processor or using the milling blade on your blender.
  2. Add the garlic and blend.
  3. Add all the other ingredients and blend until smooth.
  4. Set aside until needed.

Gnocchi traybake 

  1. Using an ovenproof dish, combine the chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, boiling water, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper.
  2. Add the cherry tomatoes, spinach, half the gnocchi and crumble in the ‘ricotta’ cheese. Mix everything together and make sure it’s evenly spaced.
  3. Add in the rest of the gnocchi, distributing it evenly across the pan.
  4. Sprinkle over the half teaspoon of salt then cover the top of the dish with the fresh basil leaves.
  5. Evenly distribute the vegan cheese over the top and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.
  6. Cover the top of the dish with foil and place in the oven for 15 minutes.
  7. Remove from the oven, take off the foil and then place the dish in the oven for another 15 minutes or until golden and the cheese has melted.

Optional serving suggestions: antipasto, crusty bread, garlic bread, olives, olive tapenade, roasted vegetables, salad, steamed vegetables, vegan feta salad, vegan mayo

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