Gnocchi with Tomatoes, Pancetta & Wilted Watercress

By pattie_d

We use just a touch of pancetta—cured Italian-style bacon—to balance the sweet tomatoes and peppery watercress. Make it a meal: A salad tossed with a red-wine vinaigrette completes dinner.


READER'S COMMENT:
"We love this basic recipe. We often make substitutions based on what we have available (bacon for pancetta, arugula for watercress, and we use any kind of pasta). I would never substitute on the basic recipe for the sauce. It is easy to...

Ingredients

• 2 ounces pancetta, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 teaspoons red-wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 pound gnocchi, (see Shopping Tip)
• 4 ounces watercress, tough stems removed, coarsely chopped (6 cups packed)
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Step 1

Put a large pan of water on to boil.

Cook pancetta in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, sugar and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring, until the tomatoes are almost completely broken down, about 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar and salt. Remove from the heat.

Cook gnocchi in the boiling water until they float, 3 to 5 minutes or according to package directions. Place watercress in a colander and drain the gnocchi over the watercress, wilting it slightly. Add the gnocchi and watercress to the sauce in the pan; toss to combine. Serve immediately, with Parmesan.

TIPS & NOTES:

Shopping Tip: We like the texture of “shelf-stable” prepared gnocchi found in the Italian section of most supermarkets, but frozen and fresh refrigerated gnocchi also work well here.

NUTRITION:
Per serving: 377 calories; 7 g fat ( 3 g sat , 1 g mono ); 16 mg cholesterol; 63 g carbohydrates; 14 g protein; 3 g fiber; 686 mg sodium; 329 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (50% daily value), Vitamin A (45% dv), Calcium & Iron (15% dv).

Carbohydrate Servings: 4

Exchanges: 4 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat