German Style Gnocchi and Brats

We love sausage at our house – and we are fortunate enough to have an artisan sausage company near us!! We picked up these delicious brats and cooked them up with some German style gnocchi and greens!

Isn’t Gnocchi Italian?

Traditional gnocchi is a version of Italian pasta that uses potatoes – but it is more a dumpling than a pasta.

Gnocchi with parmesan and olive oil

Typically made of potato and boiled before they are fried, gnocchi is a soft, pillow like ball of deliciousness. But there is a German variation – Schupfnudeln.

Schupfnudeln is made with almost exactly the same kind of dough, but they are shaped into long, finger shaped, “potato” noodles. They are also boiled first and then fried.

Traditional German potato dumplings served with parsley

But what do do when you just aren’t in the mood to make homemade pasta or dumplings? Use premade gnocchi!

Start with the German Sausage – 

Cook the sausage first. Those salty, sticky pan drippings will become part of the sauce!

In a heavy skillet, cook the sausage until it’s well browned on the outside and fully cooked on the inside, about 10 minutes on each side. Be sure to use tongs to turn them!! You want those juices to stay in the sausage for now!

Making the Gnocchi – 

While the sausage is cooking, bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

Add the gnocchi and cook until it starts to float (about 3 to 4 minutes).

Drain and set aside.

When the sausage is fully cooked, set it on top of the cooked gnocchi.

Next put the bacon in the sausage pan and cook until it’s starting to crisp up. The rendered fat will be part of the sauce.

When the bacon is lightly browned, add the onions and garlic and gently sauté until they are golden and soft. Stir in the mustard and butter.

Put the gnocchi back in the pan and toss with the onion mixture.

Cook gently until the gnocchi starts to brown lightly. Push it to the side and add the sausage back to the pan.

Putting the Dish Together – 

Once the gnocchi has started to brown a little and the sausages are fully browned, stir in the greens.

Let them cook until they are wilted but still bright green.

Serve it all together how and delicious!

© Copyright 2024 The Lazy Gastronome

5 from 5 votes

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German Style Gnocchi and Brats

A delicious one pan dish that combines greens, dumplings and sausage. Easy and delicious.

Course: dinner, Main Course, main dish

Cuisine: ameican, fusion, German

Keyword: bacon, brats, bratwurst, dumplings, garlic, gnocchi, onion

Servings: 4 servings

Author: HelenFern

Ingredients

• 8 Bratwurst Sausage
• 2 17.5 oz packages Potato Gnocchi
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped raw bacon
• 3 cloves minced, fresh garlic
• 2 Tablespoons sweet hot mustard
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 cups baby greens, such as spinach, chard, kale or a combination

Instructions

1. Cook the sausage first. Those salty, sticky pan drippings will become part of the sauce!

   In a heavy skillet, cook the sausage until it's well browned on the outside and fully cooked on the inside, about 10 minutes on each side. Be sure to use tongs to turn them!! You want those juices to stay in the sausage for now!

2. While the sausage is cooking, bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

3. Add the gnocchi and cook until it starts to float (about 3 to 4 minutes). Drain and set aside.

4. When the sausage is fully cooked, set it on top of the cooked gnocchi.

5. Next put the bacon in the sausage pan and cook until it's starting to crisp up. The rendered fat will be part of the sauce.

6. When the bacon is lightly browned, add the onions and garlic and gently sauté until they are golden and soft. Stir in the mustard and butter.

7. Put the gnocchi back in the pan and toss with the onion mixture.

8. Cook gently until the gnocchi starts to brown lightly. Push it to the side and add the sausage back to the pan. 

9. Once the gnocchi has started to brown a little and the sausages are fully browned, stir in the greens. Let them cook until they are wilted but still bright green.

10. Serve it all together how and delicious!

Recipe Notes

You can use any kind of German sausage. Brats are the easiest to find, but any fresh (not smoked) sausage will work. 

Choose your favorite German mustard. I like the sweet how because of the bright flavors it adds. 

© Copyright 2024 The Lazy Gastronome

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