• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nicky's Kitchen Sanctuary logo

  • > Start Here
  • The Recipes
    • Browse all categories
    • Asian
    • Dinner
    • Pasta
    • Roast Dinner
    • Curries
    • Sides
    • Soups
    • Big Batch
    • Quick Dinner Recipes
    • Skinny Recipes
    • Street Food
    • Lunch
    • Gluten Free
    • Vegetarian
    • Cakes & Treats
    • BBQ
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Drinks
    • Appetizers
    • Sauces and Dips
  • My New Book
  • Blogger Resources
    • Living The Blog
    • How to start a food blog
    • Income Reports
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Sign-Up
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • > Available to Pre-Order NOW!
  • > Start Here
  • All Recipes
  • Never miss a recipe!
  • 20 Minute Meals
  • Appetizers & Party Food
  • Asian
  • Curries
  • Dinner
  • One Pot
  • Pasta
  • Roast Dinner
  • Sides
  • Slow Cooked
  • Soups
  • Street Food
  • Terms and Conditions
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > Quick Dinner Recipes

    Gnocchi with Chorizo and Creamy Harissa Sauce

    Published: Feb 1, 2022 by Nicky Corbishley

    Go to Recipe Go to Video Print Recipe

    A fantastic way to pep-up store-bought gnocchi and turn it into something really special. We're serving it with crispy chorizo, onions and peppers in a creamy-yet-spicy harissa and coconut milk sauce.
    I also like to pack in fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes. A brilliant 30-minute weeknight dinner.

    Close up overhead of a pan filled with gnocchi and chorizo in harissa sauce.
    Jump to:
    • 📋 What do we need?
    • 📺 Watch how to make it
    • 🍽️ What to serve it with
    • 🍲 More fantastic Quick Dinner recipes
    • Gnocchi with Chorizo and Creamy Harissa Sauce Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Why is this my FIRST gnocchi recipe on the blog? 😳

    It's so quick and easy to serve up a lip-smacking dinner using store-bough gnocchi. I love that it can take BIG flavours like chorizo and harissa and soak them all up.

    I took inspiration from my ravioli sauce recipe (which uses store-bought ravioli) with the tangy, creamy sauce, but decided to go with harissa to give it a bit of heat and coconut milk to give it that creamyness.

    The addition of the crispy chorizo adds a lovely salty bite to the whole dish!

    📋 What do we need?

    Ingredients for gnocchi with creamy harissa sauce on a wooden table.
    • Gnocchi - I use regular, fresh, store-bought gnocchi, but of course you can use homemade gnocchi if you like.
    • Chorizo - I use ready-diced Spanish chorizo for this recipe, to save on time. I like one that's a little bit spicy, but you can use your favourite chorizo, and go milder if you prefer.
    • Harissa - I use rose harissa, which is a little bit milder than regular harissa. It contains dried rose petals, which gives it a slightly more complex taste, but you usually can't taste the rose in there. Use regular harissa or rose - both work great with this dish.

    📺 Watch how to make it

    Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.

    1. Because the gnocchi cooks really quickly, we're cooking the chorizo and sauce first.
      So start off by frying the chorizo in a little bit of oil. You don't need much, as the chorizo release its own oils as it cooks. Once it's crispy, remove from the pan, leaving any oils behind.
    2. Fry onions, peppers and garlic in the chorizo oil. Season with a little salt and pepper, then add harissa, tomato puree, coconut milk and cherry tomatoes to the pan.
    3. Let that simmer for 5 minutes, and during that time, cook your gnocchi.
    4. Now add the gnocchi, cooked chorizo and fresh spinach to the pan with the sauce and stir it all together until heated through.

    👩‍🍳PRO TIP Gnocchi only takes a couple of minutes to cook in boiling water. Once the gnocchi is cooked, it will float to the top of the pan of water.

    I like to serve it topped with a little black pepper, parsley and a few chilli flakes.

    Gnocchi and chorizo in a grey bowl with a black spoon in. The bowl is on a grey surface and the pan is just in shot.

    🍽️ What to serve it with

    • Homemade Garlic Bread
    • Fresh Artisan Bread
    • A Simple Green Salad

    So much flavour in every bite!

    My question to you now is....


    Should I share a recipe for how to make gnocchi from scratch?
    Also, are you interested in different gnocchi flavours?

    Let me know in the comments below 😊

    Close up of gnocchi with chorizo and red pepper in harissa coconut sauce.
    What is harissa?

    Harissa is a spicy, smoky chilli paste that originated in Tunisia. Usually red in colour, it adds a rich, spicy flavour to dishes. It's great as a rub/marinade or mixed in to sauces.

    What's the difference between regular harissa and rose harissa?

    Rose harissa contains rose petals and sometimes rose water. You can't generally taste the rose, but it adds a gentle richness and floral quality to dishes.
    I find regular harissa to be a little hotter than rose harissa.


    🍲 More fantastic Quick Dinner recipes

    • Square image of two salmon fillets cooked in individual baking parchment parcels with slices of chilli, peppers, babycorn, carrot and spring onion. Also topped with wedges of lime. The parcels are open, on a wooden board on a light background. There is a dish of sesame seeds nearby.
      Salmon en Papillote
    • Square image of pesto spaghetti on a light grey plate being swirled with a gold fork. The pasta is sprinkled with baby basil leaves, toasted pine nuts and parmesan. The plate is on a light grey surface.
      Pesto Pasta Recipe
    • Overhead square image of a black bowl filled with ramen noodles topped with chilli flakes, spring onions and mixed sesame seeds. There is a pair of black chopsticks resting on top of the bowl. The bowl is on a wooden table.
      Peanut Butter Noodles with Garlic and Chilli
    • square overhead image of a pan of prawn linguine in a creamy buffalo sauce.
      Creamy Cajun Prawn Pasta
    • Square overhead image of chicken and mushroom stroganoff in a dark pan. The pan is on a dark surface with a wooden spoon sticking out. The stroganoff is garnished with chopped parsley and paprika.
      Chicken Stroganoff
    • Square overhead image of chicken panang curry and rice in a brown bowl, topped with chopped peanuts and Thai basil leaves. There is a further bowl, just in shot, at the top of the frame, an orange napkin next to the bowls and some chopped peanuts nearby. The bowls are on a wooden table.
      Chicken Panang Curry

    Stay updated with new recipes!
    Subscribe to the newsletter to hear when I post a new recipe. I’m also on YouTube (new videos every week) and Instagram (behind-the-scenes stories & beautiful food photos).

    Square image of gnocchi and chorizo in harissa sauce in a black cast iron pan.

    Gnocchi with Chorizo and Creamy Harissa Sauce Recipe

    By: Nicky Corbishley
    Turn store-bought gnocchi into something special with crispy chorizo, onion and peppers in a creamy-yet-spicy harissa and coconut milk sauce.
    4.72 from 14 votes
    Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American-Italian, Middle Eastern
    Servings 3 - 4 Servings
    Calories 457 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tsp sunflower oil
    • 150 g (5.3 oz) diced chorizo - use your favourite variety, I use ready-chopped Spanish chorizo
    • 1 small onion - peeled and finely diced
    • 1 red bell pepper - deseeded and sliced
    • 2 cloves garlic - peeled and minced
    • ¼ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp black pepper
    • 1 ½ tbsp harissa paste
    • 1 tbsp tomato puree - paste for US
    • 200 ml (7 fl oz) full-fat coconut milk
    • 150 g (5.3 oz) cherry (grape) tomatoes - sliced in half
    • 500 g (17.6 oz) fresh gnocchi
    • 60 g (2 packed cups) baby spinach

    To Serve:

    • chilli flakes
    • black pepper
    • freshly chopped parsley

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Heat the oil in a large frying pan (skillet) over medium-high heat.
      1 tsp sunflower oil
    • Add the chorizo and cook, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes, until the chorizo starts to release its oils.
      150 g (5.3 oz) diced chorizo
    • Use a slotted spoon to remove the chorizo. Place in a bowl and put to one side
    • Turn the heat on the pan down to medium and add the chopped onion, bell pepper, garlic, salt, and pepper.
      1 small onion, 1 red bell pepper, 2 cloves garlic, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper
    • Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onion and peppers soften.
    • Meanwhile, bring a large pan of water to the boil for the gnocchi.
    • Add the harissa paste and tomato puree to the pan with the onions and stir together.
      1 ½ tbsp harissa paste, 1 tbsp tomato puree
    • Add the coconut milk and cherry tomatoes, stir and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
      200 ml (7 fl oz) full-fat coconut milk, 150 g (5.3 oz) cherry (grape) tomatoes
    • Meanwhile, add the gnocchi to the pan of boiling water and cook for 2-4 minutes, until the gnocchi floats to the top of the pan.
      500 g (17.6 oz) fresh gnocchi
    • Once the gnocchi is cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove from the pan and place it directly in the frying pan with the sauce.
    • Add the spinach and the chorizo you cooked earlier.
      60 g (2 packed cups) baby spinach
    • Stir together and cook for a further 1-2 minutes, until the spinach wilts.
    • Serve topped with chilli flakes, black pepper, and fresh parsley.
      chilli flakes, black pepper, freshly chopped parsley

    Video

    ✎ Notes

    Don't want it spicy?
    Use mild chorizo and replace the harissa with the same amount of tomato puree, mixed with a good pinch each of smoked paprika, garlic salt, cumin and ground coriander. It won't give you quite the same flavour, but it works great for anyone with a milder palate.
    Can I make it ahead?
    This dish tastes best when cooked and eaten right away, but it does still taste good when reheated.
    Cook the dish, then cool, cover and refrigerate. Reheat in the pan, over a medium heat, stirring often, until piping hot. You may need to add a splash of water to loosen the sauce up when reheating.
    Can I freeze it?
    I don't recommend freezing this dish.
    Ingredient swaps
    • Swap out the chorizo for crispy bacon, or you could even add in chunks of cooked chicken, pork or prawns.
    • Add in different vegetables - such as peas, chopped green beans or chunks of courgette (zucchini).
    How to scale up and scale down this recipe
    Double or halve this recipe, sticking to the same ingredient ratios.
    If doubling, it may take a few minutes more to cook the vegetables and heat everything through when the gnocchi, chorizo and spinach is added to the pan.
    Nutritional information is per serving, based on 4 servings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 457kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 14gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 1119mgPotassium: 424mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 2715IUVitamin C: 55mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 8mg
    Keywords 30 Minute Meals, Quick and Easy, spicy
    Tried this recipe?Mention @KitchenSanctuary or tag #KitchenSanctuary on Instagram!

    Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

    Read More

    More Quick Dinner Recipes

    • Overhead square shot of a white bowl filled with chicken and sweetcorn soup. The soup is topped with spring onions and there is a black spoon sticking out. There are some spring onions also in shot.
      Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup
    • Overhead of penne arrabiata pasta in a pan on dark background
      Penne Arrabbiata with Mozzarella and Chorizo
    • Square overhead image of salmon and spaghetti in a creamy lemon sauce in a white bowl with a lemon wedge in the bowl. The bowl is on a blue background. There is a fork and a napkin nearby.
      Pan Fried Salmon and Spaghetti with Lemon Cream Sauce
    • Overhead image of chicken lo mein on a blue plate on top of a wooden table. There is a pot of sweet chilli sauce and some chopsticks at the top of the image.
      Easy Chicken Lo Mein

    Other Recipes You Might Like:

    One Pot Creamy Tomato and Chorizo Rigatoni with mozzarella and parmesan - a quick and easy mid-week dinner, ready in less than 25 mins!
    One Pot Creamy Tomato and Chorizo Rigatoni
    Close up of gnocchi with brown butter and sage in a pan with lemon
    Gnocchi with brown butter and sage
    Square image of a chorizo and bean layered tortilla pan with a slice taken out. The dish is topped with sliced avocado, chopped chillies and sliced red onion.
    Chorizo and Bean Tortilla Lasagne
    Square image of pesto spaghetti on a light grey plate being swirled with a gold fork. The pasta is sprinkled with baby basil leaves, toasted pine nuts and parmesan. The plate is on a light grey surface.
    Pesto Pasta Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Rate the recipe




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Katarina says

      September 24, 2023 at 5:24 pm

      5 stars
      Made this a couple times now and it’s delicious. I’d never heard of harissa before, it’s been fun incorporating it into other dishes.

      Reply
    2. Clive Mitchell says

      June 10, 2023 at 8:19 am

      5 stars
      Ver,very TASTY!
      I used Lidl Linguica sausages because I had no chorizo - it worked beautifully.
      Nicky - your recipes never fail!

      Reply
    3. Yvonne says

      April 24, 2023 at 11:49 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Made it vegan with soy chorizo. I’d want a slightly thinner sauce, but this is a hearty and cozy recipe for colder months.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

    Read More

    Recipes by category:

    • Popular Recipes
    • Asian
    • Curries
    • Quick Dinner Recipes
    • British Classic Recipes
    • BBQ
    • Roast Dinner
    • Street Food
    • Pasta
    Search For a Recipe

    Our Top Trending Recipes:

    • Crispy Sesame Chicken on a bed of rice in a stone bowl
      Crispy Sesame Chicken with a Sticky Asian Sauce
    • honey garlic chicken in a bowl on top of boiled rice
      Honey Garlic Chicken
    • Roast potatoes with salt and fresh thyme leaves
      The Best Crispy Roast Potatoes
    • Cheesy Pasta Bake With Chicken And Bacon - a family favourite (and it makes great leftovers too!).
      Cheesy Pasta Bake With Chicken And Bacon
    • Chicken curry in a white bowl with rice.
      Easy Chicken Curry
    • Satay sauce in a small copper pan topped with peanuts and coriander
      Easy Satay Sauce Recipe
    • Bowl of Korean fried chicken topped with sesame seeds and strips of spring onion.
      Korean Fried Chicken
    • Overhead image of tuna pasta bake in a white dish topped with finely chopped parsley.
      Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake

    FREE recipes direct to your inbox!

    Never miss a recipe and sign up for our completely FREE emails.

      Featured Recipes:

      • Hands holding bowl of Bowl of chilli con carne with rice
        Chilli Con Carne
      • Lancashire hotpot on wooden background
        Traditional Lancashire Hotpot
      • A dish of creamy chicken pie with puff pastry sat on a blue and white striped cloth.
        Creamy Chicken Pot Pie
      • Egg fried rice on a dark bowl on a white background.
        Egg Fried Rice
      • Bowl of Korean fried chicken topped with sesame seeds and strips of spring onion.
        Korean Fried Chicken
      • Firecracker Chicken on a blue plate against a dark background
        Copycat Firecracker Chicken
      • Square image of buffalo chicken pasta in a silver pan on a light grey background.
        Buffalo Chicken Pasta
      • A simple made-from-scratch curry, slow cooked to intensify the heat and flavour.
        Slow Cooker Spicy Chicken Curry
      As Featured On
      brit and co logo
      buzzfeed logo
      cheshire life logo
      country living logo
      beautiful home and life logo
      my fitness pal logo
      Neff logo
      The telegraph logo
      The Kitchn logo
      Vegetarian society logo

      Footer

      Nicky Corbishley is the recipe creator and photographer for Kitchen Sanctuary. Wife to Chris (chief techie and videographer) and mum to Lewis and Gracey. Read More…

      DMCA.com Protection Status

      Most Recent Recipes

      • 26 Potato Side Dishes for EVERY occasion!
      • Salmon en Papillote
      • Slow cooker gammon
      • Homemade Vegetable Samosa Recipe
      • Amazing Leftover Turkey Recipes

      Copyright © 2023 LoveFoodCreative Ltd - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy - Terms & Conditions