Creamy truffle gnocchi, gnocchi al tartufo in Italian, is the dish I make for Christmas lunch or for a special occasion. I combine potato gnocchi, homemade or store-bought, with a creamy sauce of truffle cream, butter and plenty of Parmesan, and serve them as a primo piatto or a side dish.
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This white or black truffle gnocchi recipe is your best choice to make a meal exceptional and impress your guests or Valentine.
You can use store-bought gnocchi, or make them from scratch.
My boys love the gnocchi I make with the eggless potato gnocchi recipe my mother taught me. She learned it at her amateur Cordon Bleu class in Rome in the 70s.
They are happy to join me in the kitchen to make them, as they want a large amount and don't want to wait.
For other fancy recipes you can prepare for a special dinner, you can check baked tortellini souffle, Champagne risotto in a Parmesan wheel or multi-color vegan gnocchi.
This recipe is part of my Italian Christmas lunch menu. To see how it fits with the other courses and what you can prepare ahead, you can read Traditional Italian Christmas Dinner: Courses, Menus and Make-Ahead Planning.
This recipe is one of the dishes I serve at an Italian dinner party. To find out how the courses are organized and how to plan the menu ahead, you can read Hosting an Authentic Italian Dinner Party: Courses, Menus, and Traditions.
What gnocchi to use
You can either use your homemade gnocchi or buy them freshly made at a good deli.
If you want to make your homemade fluffy gnocchi, follow this recipe on the blog.
They are small delicate pillowy gnocchi made without egg, and you can taste the potatoes.
They nicely absorb the truffle sauce maintaining a light and delicate bite.
If you buy them, make sure they are freshly made in your local grocery store.
The prepackaged gnocchi are too chunky, overly dense or gummy.
This is a special dish, after all.
Choosing the truffle cream
You can find black truffle oil, white truffle oil, truffle salt, black truffle butter, or cream with truffle flavor.
However, there are a lot of synthetic truffle flavors which are not at the level of real truffles.
It is, therefore, essential to read the labels and buy only a proper brand.
My favorite is white truffle mixed with wild porcini mushrooms.
To know more about the types of truffles, their price and how to buy them, you can read my article Black and White Italian Truffles: A Buying Guide.
Ingredients
If you want to make your own homemade gnocchi from scratch these are the ingredients you need
- Russet potatoes
- All purpose flour
- Salt and black pepper
Follow the recipe fluffy gnocchi
For the creamy truffle sauce:
- A jar of truffle sauce. Here I use a mix of white truffle and porcini mushroom
- Heavy cream
- Butter
- Parmigiano Reggiano
You can find the measurements in the recipe card below.
Instructions
Pour the truffle sauce, heavy cream, and a little butter into a large pan. Do not turn on the heat.
Next to it, place a large pot of salted water to cook the gnocchi.
When the water is rolling boil, gradually put the gnocchi in the boiling water. Depending on your pan size, it is best not to put them all at once.
When the gnocchi starts floating, remove them with a slotted spoon and put them in the pan over the truffle cream. Stir but very gently.
The heat from the gnocchi will melt the butter and soften the sauce.
Continue until all the gnocchi are cooked.
Once all the gnocchi are done, stir the gnocchi with the sauce to combine. Always stir gently as the fluffy gnocchi are very delicate.
- Transfer the gnocchi to an elegant serving bowl, top them with Parmesan and bring to the table. They should be eaten immediately while still warm
Using fresh truffle
If you want to use fresh truffle, you can look up the recipe for Pasta with black truffles.
Use the same method to clean the truffle, prepare the sauce, and cook the gnocchi as described above.
How to serve gnocchi with truffle
You can either serve the gnocchi as a starter or as a side dish for meat or poultry.
To retain the truffle flavor as predominant, serve it with a mild main course.
I wouldn't serve them as a side for seafood.
Here are some ideas of main dishes you can serve together with the truffle gnocchi:
Other sauces for gnocchi
For more sauces to serve with gnocchi, from butter and sage to ragù, you can read my light and fluffy homemade gnocchi recipe.
Frequently asked questions
What sauce goes with truffle gnocchi?
The sauce I use is truffle cream with heavy cream, butter and Parmigiano, as in this recipe. If you want something simpler, the most common gnocchi sauce is just butter and sage.
What to serve with truffle gnocchi?
I serve truffle gnocchi as a starter or as a side dish for meat or poultry, with a mild main course so the truffle flavor stays predominant. I wouldn't serve them as a side for seafood.
Do Italian gnocchi have egg?
Italian gnocchi offer two authentic variations, one with eggs and one without. I am a strong eggless supporter, as without the egg they can cater to vegetarians and vegans alike, and I can tailor their texture to the specific dish I'm making. This is the technique my mother taught me in the 70s.
How far ahead can I make gnocchi?
I don't let them rest for too long. Usually, I make them only 1 hour, 2 hours max, ahead, no more. Any humidity in your kitchen will soften the gnocchi, so I put them on a well-floured tray and add more flour on top.
Can you freeze gnocchi?
I wouldn't freeze gnocchi, otherwise they become too humid and break apart. Some people do, but it may not be the same recipe. If I do not have time to make them, I buy them at a good deli store that sells them freshly made.
How long do cooked gnocchi last?
Cooked gnocchi can last up to 3 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. However, the texture of the potatoes changes over time, so gnocchi are best eaten fresh. They can be reheated in a pan or in the oven, adding some more sauce or butter.
Recipes you might also like
Did you know that gnocchi are not only made with potatoes?
Check out my Gnocchi category for more ideas.
If you are making Truffle gnocchi or any other sauce I recommended in this article, leave your comment below and give it a rating, I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.
📋Creamy Truffle Gnocchi With Parmesan Sauce Recipe
Verified Culinary AuthorityVideo
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb homemade gnocchi see recipe: Light and Fluffy Italian Homemade Gnocchi
- 1 jar truffle cream
- ½ cup cream coconut cream for vegan
- ¼ cup butter extra virgin olive oil for vegan
- Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- If you want to make your own homemade gnocchi follow the recipe on the blog. If you buy them, make sure they are freshly made.1 lb homemade gnocchi
- In a pan pour the truffle sauce, the cream and the butter. Do not turn on the heat.1 jar truffle cream, ½ cup cream, ¼ cup butter
- In a large pan next to it, boil the salted water to cook the gnocchi.
- When the water is boiling, gradually put the gnocchi in the boiling water. Depending on the size of the pan you are using, it is best not to put them all at once.
- When the gnocchi start floating, remove them with a slotted spoon and put them in the pan over the truffle cream. The heat from the gnocchi will melt the butter and soften the sauce. Stir but very gently.
- Continue until all the gnocchi are cooked
- Once all the gnocchi are done stir the gnocchi with the sauce to combine. Always stir very gently as the gnocchi from my recipe have no egg and are very soft.
- Transfer the gnocchi to a serving dish and bring it to the table. They should be eaten immediately while still warm topped by Parmesan cheeseParmesan for serving
Notes
- For this recipe, you can either use your own homemade gnocchi or buy them freshly made at the store. Not the packaged ones
- You can either serve the gnocchi as a starter or as a side dish for meat or poultry. Personally I wouldn't use it as a side for seafood.
- Gradually put the gnocchi in the boiling water. Depending on the size of the pan you are using, it is best not to put them all at once.
- When the gnocchi starts floating, remove them with a ladle and put them in the pan over the truffle cream.
- Always stir the gnocchi very gently.
Patty @pattysaveurs.com
This is my all time favorite sauce for gnocchi, and for a lot of dishes for that matter, I'm such a fan of truffle, always using the black one though as the white one is far out of my budget 🙂
Laura
I love truffle too, I always buy some when I see a good brands
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
What a wonderful recipe Laura! I never try to buy truffles here in the US because they are always so expensive!! Gnocchi is by far my favorite pasta! I love it to bits and round pieces. Hehe! Great recipe!
Laura
Thank you Elaine. It is my favorite too. If you find any good truffle cream in USA, let me know. We might apply for sponsorship, LOL
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
Ohhh how I love gnocchi! This is such a great meal for Valentine's Day-- I'm going to have to add it to my menu
Laura
I am sure your husband will be happy
Marie
This looks delicious! Truffle sauce sounds like the perfect sauce to pair with pillowy gnocchi. I need to keep a look out for truffle cream to buy.
Laura
I am sure you will find a good one, just need to taste different ones until you find the one you like
Meymi-Pastry and Beyond
Truffle and gnocchi sound very delicious together! I'd love to try this recipe!
Laura
Yes, they are. I am sure you will like it
Célyne
Love both gnocchi and truffles!
one of my favourite truffle products is truffle flavoured/scented flour. We used to find it easily in NYC (Grace Marketplace) but it is more difficult here especially since l'Arbre à Truffes in Vence is no more...
Laura
How interesting, I never heard of truffle flour. I saw the truffle shop in Vence but I always got mine in Italy or at the Montecarlo Gastronomy.
Beth
I have only had truffles a few times. I haven't been able to find them around me! This looks like such a special, delicious meal for St. Valentines Day!
Laura
Really? I need to send you some