Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi
The Idea
This leftover mashed potato gnocchi recipe will surprise you. Last weekend, my friend and I worked on the Simple Smoked Pulled Pork and Smoked Mashed Potatoes recipes. Not to mention, we also made a couple of my favorite coleslaw recipes between wood loads. Our families had quite an amazing feast that evening. But no matter how much we ate, we had mounds of leftovers. I'm not a huge fan of wasting food, so something had to be done.
As I stood in my kitchen, examining the assortment of leftovers before me, my thoughts raced with the prospect of concocting a culinary creation that would truly astonish. I contemplated how I might ingeniously repurpose these remnants into a dish that would undoubtedly be unparalleled, a masterpiece born from the seemingly mundane. Drawing inspiration from the captivating television show, 'Best Leftovers Ever!' — a delightful showcase dedicated solely to the craft of transforming leftovers — I summoned my inner chef, eagerly poised for culinary adventure. Almost instantly, I found myself immersed in a whirlwind of ideas, fixated on the mound of mashed potatoes that awaited my innovation.
The Gnocchi
It was as if the renowned Chef Federico Alessandri had taken up residence in my thoughts, repeatedly emphasizing the enchanting word 'Gnocchi.' You might inquire as to why this particular chef held such prominence in my culinary imagination. The answer lay in a cherished memory that unfolded back in August of 2022, when my amazing wife and I embarked on our unforgettable honeymoon in the heart of Italy. It was on the picturesque streets of that mesmerizing country that Chef Federico Alessandri, with his charismatic flair, had imparted to us the intricate art of making Gnocchi. With the essence of our Italian adventure still lingering in my mind, my path forward was unmistakable — I had no alternative but to heed the call of Gnocchi-making magic in my very own kitchen.
I was a little concerned at first, as the skins, bacon and green onions were still in the leftover mashed potatoes. Shaking it off, I trucked on and moved forward, combining the flour egg and potatoes. In my amazement it held together well. I began rolling out the Gnocchi into large slithery snakes. Cut the snakes into pillowy little pieces, then place them on a baking sheet with a little flour. With this discovery, I now realize that you can make Gnocchi out of any type of leftover mashed potatoes.
The Sauce
The next thought was, what do I put on the mashed potato gnocchi? I wanted to use BBQ sauce at first, but I thought there would be too much BBQ Sauce. As much as I love the sauce, I didn't want a fork full of it. So instead, I made a cream sauce with shallots and garlic. A little salt, pepper, and pasta water. Presto, the sauce was made! From there I put the BBQ Sauce in a squirt bottle, and put it on over the sauce, then added some green onion. It was fantastic!
The Meat
I thought to myself, I need more leftovers, so I kept going. Thinking about the Smoked Pulled Pork I still had in the fridge as well as some turkey bacon. I feverishly grabbed them out of the fridge and went to town. I cooked the turkey bacon until it was nice and crispy. Then, I warmed up some of the Pulled Pork, then layered that on top.
The Finishing Touch
I wasn't done there; I still had my Sweet and Spicy Coleslaw in the fridge. Worrying I might be taking it too far, I pushed on. I craved a cool, sweet, and spicy crunch. I took that first bite, and my tastebuds sang. My leftover journey was over, and I won first place on Best Leftovers Ever! The confetti flew and the judges praised my name. It was fantastic.
Part 1 | Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi Instructions
Step 1
Scoop the flour onto a clean surface and make a well in the center. Add the egg and whisk with a fork mixing the egg and flour as you whisk.
Step 2
Break up the mashed potatoes and add them to the flour and egg mixture. Mix until fully combined.
Step 3
Form the dough into a ball and let rest for 15 minutes.
Step 4
Cut the dough into four pieces, then roll it out until it's about 3/4 inch diameter. Use a knife or a bench scraper to cut them into 1" long pieces.
Step 5
Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt. Once the water is at a rolling boil, drop the Gnocchi into the pot. They will immediately sink to the bottom. In 3-4 Minutes, the Gnocchi will start floating. Save 1/2 cup of gnocchi water then drain the rest, drizzle with olive oil to keep them from sticking together.
Step 6
Add 2 Tbsp of olive oil to a frying pan, then pan fry the gnocchi until it's golden brown.
Part 2 | Sauce Instructions
Step 1
Take the Shallots and Garlic Cloves and finely mince them.
Step 2
Take a frying pan and set the heat to medium/low. Add the butter and let it melt all the way down.
Step 3
Once the butter has melted add in the minced shallots. Sautee them until they're browned then add in the garlic.
Step 4
Once the garlic has become fragrant, turn the heat to low, then add in the heavy cream, sour cream, and whisk until it has a smooth consistency. Let it simmer for 5-6 minutes, then remove from heat.
Step 5
Add the gnocchi to the pan and mix them around, adding in the gnocchi water as needed. Once the gnocchi is completely coated, they are ready to serve
Part 3 | Plating Instructions
Step 1
Get a plate and place the gnocchi in the center. If you have any proteins available, place them on top.
Step 2
Take the green onion and drop it on top, then drizzle with BBQ Sauce with either a spoon or a squeeze bottle. Then enjoy.
What recipes did I combine to make this?
Below is a list of recipes that I combined to make this amazing leftover meal. Keep in mind, you're not limited to only these recipes to make the amazingly flavorful dish above. Be creative!
Conclusion
Since I have started this website, I've been thinking of new and creative ways to bring recipes together without waste. This meal was a meal that I brought together using three recipes that I made the night prior and I couldn't be prouder. I've had Gnocchi before as well as pulled pork and coleslaw, however I've never had a BBQ version. The results were amazing, and I was quite proud of my work on this one. It's one of those moments where I've felt like I've taken it up a notch and really thought creatively. I hope that if you stumble upon this website that you check out this recipe and the corresponding recipes to make it to have two nights of amazing dinners.
- 1 cup Leftover Mashed Potatoes
- 1 cup Flour
- 1 Large Egg
- 3 Shallots (Finely Minced)
- 2 clove Garlic (Finely Minced)
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 cup Sour Cream
- 4 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Ground Black Pepper
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 2 cup Leftover Pulled Pork (Not Required)
- 2 cup Sweet and Spicy Coleslaw (Not Required)
Scoop the flour onto a clean surface and make a well in the center. Add the egg and whisk with a fork mixing the egg and flour as you whisk.
Break up the mashed potatoes and add them to the flour and egg mixture. Mix until fully combined.
Form the dough into a ball and let rest for 15 minutes.
Roll out the dough until it's about 3/4 in diameter. Use a knife or a bench scraper to cut them into 1" long pieces.
Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt. Once the water is at a rolling boil, drop the Gnocchi into the pot. They will immediately sink to the bottom. In 3-4 Minutes, the Gnocchi will start floating. Save about 1/2 cup of gnocchi water then drain the rest, then drizzle with olive oil to keep them from sticking together.
Add 2 Tbsp of olive oil to a frying pan, then pan fry the gnocchi until it's golden brown.
Take the Shallots and Garlic Cloves and finely mince them.
Take a frying pan and set the heat to medium/low. Add the butter and let it melt all the way down.
Once the butter has melted add in the minced shallots. Sautee them until they're browned then add in the garlic.
Once the garlic has become fragrant, turn the heat to low, then add in the heavy cream, sour cream, and whisk until it has a smooth consistency. Let it simmer for 5-6minutes, then remove from heat.
Add the gnocchi to the pan and mix them around, adding in the gnocchi water as needed. Once the gnocchi is completely coated, they are ready to serve.
Get a plate and place the gnocchi in the center. If you have any proteins available, place them on top.
Take the green onion and drop it on top, then drizzle with BBQ Sauce with either a spoon or a squeeze bottle. Then enjoy.
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