Can I make this gluten-free?

Yes! Just use gluten-free alternatives to some of the gluten containing ingredients listed. Use gluten-free gnocchi options, swap the soy sauce for a wheat-free tamari or coconut aminos, and make sure your gochujang is gluten-free.

Gochujang is a spicy and slightly sweet red chili paste that is commonly used in Korean cuisine. It is made with chili powder, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, and salt, among other ingredients. It is often used as a condiment, marinade, or in sauces like the one used in this recipe.

Can I replace the gochujang?

The gochujang will add a unique savory and spicy element to your sauce, so I wouldn’t recommend replacing it. You can try more mild and traditional pasta sauces here .

Gochujang Gnocchi - Plant Based RD

Name: Gochujang Gnocchi
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 pint cherry tomatoes; 2 scallions, thinly sliced with whites and greens divided; 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 1-2 tbsp gochujang paste (use 1 tbsp for less spicy); 1 tbsp soy sauce; 3 tbsp plant-based cream cheese*; 2-3 tsp maple syrup or brown sugar (optional, but it helps balance the savory spicy taste of the sauce); 1 package of gnocchi; Salt to taste; Toasted sesame seeds; Chili Oil; Zucchini, optional (cube and add when adding the garlic and scallions)

Description

This gochujang gnocchi only requires 9 ingredients and comes together in less than 30 minutes. Easy to make, budget-friendly and the perfect weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

1 tbsp olive oil
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 scallions, thinly sliced with whites and greens divided
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1–2 tbsp gochujang paste (use 1 tbsp for less spicy)
1 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp plant-based cream cheese*
2–3 tsp maple syrup or brown sugar (optional, but it helps balance the savory spicy taste of the sauce)
1 package of gnocchi
Salt to taste

Garnish & Additional Veg Recommendations

Toasted sesame seeds
Chili Oil
Zucchini, optional (cube and add when adding the garlic and scallions)

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Instructions

Bring a large sauce pan filled with water and a generous amount of salt to a boil. To a large skillet over medium low heat, add oil and warm it through. Add the cherry tomatoes, stir to coat in oil then occasionally stir until the tomatoes begin to blister, about 5 minutes.
Add the white portion of the scallions along with the garlic to the skillet and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
Move the mixture away from the center of the pan, then add in the gochujang and sauté for 1-2 minutes, add in the soy sauce and stir it in with the rest of the mixture in the pan while turning the heat down to low.
Cook your gnocchi according to the package and make sure to reserve a cup of the cooking water.
To the skillet, stir in the cream cheese and maple syrup, then add in the gnocchi and 3/4 cup of the reserved cooking water. Stir well to combine until nice and saucy. If needed, add an additional splash of reserved water to thin out the sauce more to your liking.
Divide the gnocchi into appropriate sized portions then serve topped with some chili oil, the remaining scallions and sesame seeds.

Notes

To keep this dairy-free, I used my own homemade tofu cream cheese. I have also tested this with other commercial cream cheese brands like Kite Hill, Tofutti and Violife.

Reserve the cooking water. This starchy solution will help make our sauce the right velvety consistency. I like to save a little more than what I think I might need in case I want to adjust the sauce some more after I’ve mixed it together.

Adjust the sweetener to your liking. Whether using maple syrup or sugar, just note, that it helps to balance out both the savory and spicy components of the sauce. It brings a lot of good balance, but if you wish to leave it out, you are more than welcome to.

Adjust the heat to your liking. If you are sensitive to spicy foods, use just 1 tablespoon of gochujang and replace the other tablespoon with some tomato paste. You can cook the tomato paste down further and caramelize it before adding the gochujang.

Add more veggies. Add some diced zucchini to sauté up when adding the garlic and scallions to the skillet. Just sauté for a few minutes then add in the rest of the ingredients as instructed.