When you think of gnocchi, chances are you’re imagining soft, pillowy puffs coated in a rich marinara sauce. While that’s definitely delicious, there’s another brilliant way to cook them — and it’s taking the internet by storm. Introducing: crispy gnocchi salad.
Crispy gnocchi salad isn’t a recipe so much as it is a state of mind. Instead of boiling gnocchi or even baking them on a sheet tray (which has become a pretty standard way of cooking packaged gnocchi these days), people are frying them instead. And rather than a pasta sauce, the gnocchi gets some salad dressing. The end result? A crispy and hearty salad.
There are two main ways people are frying their gnocchi: in a pan with some oil, or in an air fryer. For the most part, it comes down to personal preference. To pan-fry them, simply heat a little oil in your favorite skillet, then add the gnocchi and some salt. Sauté them until they’re crispy — the perfect texture to grip whatever dressing you decide to use.
The second method is air frying, which is arguably the easiest way. Just pour them straight from the pack into the basket, drizzle them with a little oil and any seasonings you want to add, and then air-fry at 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking halfway.
Once your gnocchi are fried, the world is your oyster. One creator on Instagram tossed them in a salad with tomatoes, burrata, shallots, and basil for an Italian-style gnocchi salad. Another used them in place of potatoes in a fairly standard potato salad recipe. You can even sub in the Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi! Get creative and try out your favorite salad combinations.