Gnocchi with Balsamic Reduction Sauce

A few of my favorite ingredients (if you don’t include sugar, butter, and chocolate) are balsamic vinegar and gnocchi.

I have several different kinds of balsamic vinegar in my cupboard. A blackberry and pear, a sweet dark cherry, golden, and a couple good old regular ones. I love switching them up when making vinaigrette and experimenting with them. They also make for an excellent reduction sauce perfect with a nice steak. Several years ago, Trader Joe’s sold a great balsamic reduction sauce that I always use, but they discontinued it..

That’s when I found out how darn easy it was to make. You just bring the vinegar to a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer till it’s thick and syrupy.

Oh yes, I love my balsamic vinegar!

Gnocchi has also worked it’s way into my cupboard as a regular. It makes for an easy and quick meal, taking only minutes to boil. Throw on some marinara sauce, or a cheese sauce and you’ll get the family to the dinner table in no time. Someday, I’ll actually try making them from scratch.

Until then, you’ll find a package in the cupboard.

This dish all starts with a mix of onions, mushrooms, and peppers. I used a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter to get the sizzle going but next time, I’ll use bacon! Because everything is better with bacon, right?

This recipe can be served as a side dish, or it would make for an excellent vegetarian main dish. If I was going with a main dish, I would probably swap out the white mushrooms for a meatier variety, like Baby Portabellos. But I served this dish along side a chicken cutlet.

Oh so good!

I used a mixture of whole wheat and potato gnocchi. Trying to make the transition to healthier options as smooth as possible.

And I served the balsamic reduction on the side. I knew there was no way my daughter would go for the balsamic sauce. She had a hard enough time with the wonderful balsamic smell that drifted throughout the house.

But that was A-OK with me, because that meant I could have all the more.