Spinach Gnocchi Recipe: Soft Homemade Italian Dumplings 2026

These homemade spinach gnocchi are soft, pillowy and deeply satisfying, the kind of dish that makes a weekend afternoon in the kitchen feel worthwhile. The dough comes together from just potatoes, spinach, egg and flour, and the result is far more delicate than anything you can buy in a package.

The recipe makes a generous batch, so you can boil what you need and freeze the rest for a quick dinner later. Forming each gnocco takes a little patience, especially if you add the classic ridges, but the work is simple and the payoff is a plate of tender dumplings that hold sauce beautifully.

Serve them with a light sauce so their gentle spinach flavor shines through, and be warned: these little dumplings fill you up faster than they look. Once you try them warm from the pot, you will want a bag stashed in the freezer at all times.

Ingredients for Spinach Gnocchi

For 6 servings

• 700 g potatoes
• 300 g spinach
• 1 egg
• Salt
• 300 g wheat flour (plus a little more for kneading)

How to Make Spinach Gnocchi Step by Step

1. Boil the potatoes whole with skin

Start by putting 700 g of whole, unpeeled potatoes into a pot of water and boiling them for at least 30 minutes. Depending on their size, they may need a little longer, so check that they are tender all the way through.

2. Cook the spinach

While the potatoes cook, wash 300 g of spinach and cook it in a shallow pot or large skillet using just the water clinging to the leaves after washing. This gentle method wilts the greens without adding extra liquid.

3. Drain the spinach

As soon as the spinach is soft, tip it into a colander and press down firmly so it releases as much water as possible. Getting the greens dry at this stage is key to keeping the gnocchi from falling apart later.

4. Mash the cooked potatoes

When the potatoes are tender, peel them and press them through a potato ricer or mash them with a potato masher until smooth. Work while they are still warm for the fluffiest texture.

5. Blend the spinach with the egg

Using an immersion blender, purée the well-drained spinach with 1 egg until you have a smooth green cream. Blending thoroughly helps the spinach distribute evenly through the dough.

6. Combine the potato and spinach mixture

Mix the mashed potato with the spinach purée and season with salt to taste. Stir until the two are evenly combined and the mixture has a consistent green color.

7. Add the wheat flour

Finally, add 300 g of wheat flour and mix well until the dough is homogeneous. Add the flour gradually and stop as soon as it comes together, since too much flour makes the dough crumbly.

8. Knead until the mixture is homogeneous

Turn the ball of dough out onto a well-floured counter and dust it with more flour. Handle it carefully and patiently, because this dough is quite sticky and needs a light touch.

9. Shape the gnocchi on the floured counter

Take small portions of dough and roll each into a rope, then cut the ropes into evenly sized little pieces. Flour them and set them aside well spaced so they do not stick to one another.

10. Make the characteristic ridges

To give each gnocco its ridges, roll it over the back of a fork or a ridged gnocchi board. The ridges are optional, so if you prefer to save time you can leave the gnocchi smooth and move straight on.

11. Boil them until they float

Once all the gnocchi are formed, boil them in batches in plenty of salted water and lift them out onto a plate as soon as they float, which takes about 3 or 4 minutes. Any you do not want to cook can be frozen raw, well separated, then stored in a zip-top bag.

12. Sauté in sauce and serve hot

Finish by giving the gnocchi a brief sauté with your favorite sauce, then serve them piping hot. A light sauce works best, since these dumplings are more filling than they appear.

Tips for the Best Spinach Gnocchi

Choose the right potatoes

Use older, floury potatoes for a dough that is easy to handle and holds its shape. Waxy potatoes release too much moisture and make the mixture sticky and difficult to work with.

Drain the spinach thoroughly

Pressing every last drop of water out of the cooked spinach is essential so the gnocchi do not fall apart as you shape them. If the dough still feels too wet, a little extra flour can help, but be careful not to overdo it because an excess of flour makes the dough crumbly.

Pick a light sauce and freeze the extras

These gnocchi pair beautifully with tomato and basil, ricotta, four cheeses, butter with sage or pesto, but keep the sauce on the lighter side. The batch is generous, so freeze the uncooked gnocchi in a zip-top bag and boil them straight from frozen whenever you need a fast meal.

30 Top Dishes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Much like me, you probably like having a rotation of fuss-free comfort dishes, well-known global plates, and desserts that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, I tend to reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And any time a fruity, cozy dessert sounds good, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

On mornings when I want something quick and on lighter days, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, I'm fond of making this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe.

For tapas nights and Mediterranean flavors, I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit fancier.

Come lunchtime cravings or a cozy evening meal, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Should I be after something more substantial, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Any time street-food style or party-ready plates are calling, I'll usually fix this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine to set out as a light starter or snack.

And when drinks plus a whole spread are on the agenda for company, I'll typically serve dinner alongside this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. Then to fill out the table, I like to add this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side or finish things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Additional Tasty Recipes to Cook for Loved Ones

After years of trying and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the greatest dishes balance ease, dependable methods, and big flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the very ones I keep coming back to, time and again—whether I'm throwing together a fast meal just for me or putting on something memorable for friends and family.

For a sweet finish, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to whenever I want something elegant yet effortless. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe shows exactly how I make it at home.

Whenever something light and uncomplicated is what I'm craving, I reach for the familiar Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For fuller comfort meals, I'm quick to point to the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm equally fond of passing along dishes rooted in tradition from across the globe, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the timeless Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I return to often, since it cuts down on time while still delivering excellent texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that baked pasta classics can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying minus the gluten.

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