Marry Me Crispy Tofu With Gnocchi (Printable)

Golden crispy tofu and tender gnocchi swim in a velvety sun-dried tomato cream sauce. Ready in under an hour.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tofu

01 - 14 oz extra-firm tofu, pressed and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
02 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
03 - 1/2 tsp salt
04 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Gnocchi

06 - 1.1 lb potato gnocchi (fresh or shelf-stable)

→ Sauce

07 - 2 tbsp olive oil
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
10 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
11 - 1 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1 tsp dried basil
13 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
14 - 1 cup vegetable broth
15 - 3/4 cup heavy cream (or plant-based alternative)
16 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or vegan alternative)
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

18 - Fresh basil leaves
19 - Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Toss tofu cubes with cornstarch, salt, and pepper until evenly coated. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add tofu and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy on all sides, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and set aside on a plate.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add gnocchi and cook according to package instructions until they float to the surface, about 2 to 3 minutes for fresh or 3 to 4 minutes for shelf-stable. Drain and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet used for tofu, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and diced onion; sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes; cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth and simmer for 2 minutes. Lower heat and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Cook, stirring gently, until sauce thickens slightly, about 3 to 4 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
05 - Add cooked gnocchi and crispy tofu to the sauce. Toss gently to coat everything evenly and heat through for 2 minutes. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between golden crispy tofu and tender gnocchi is absolutely addictive
  • This restaurant quality dish comes together in under an hour
  • The sun-dried tomato sauce creates layers of rich savory flavor
02 -
  • Do not skip pressing the tofu or it will steam instead of crisp up beautifully
  • The sauce thickens quickly once cream is added so keep stirring gently
  • Gnocchi overcooks fast so watch closely once they start floating
03 -
  • Cut tofu into uniform cubes so everything crisps at the same rate
  • Reserve some pasta water in case your sauce needs thinning