Meet Alex Caspero
Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Plant-Based Chef and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.
I’ve got a great weeknight dinner meal for you today, balsamic mushroom gnocchi! This dish is so easy to put together, yet fancy enough for a date-night in. Make a sauce of mushrooms, butter (non-dairy or regular) and balsamic vinegar then toss the whole thing with cooked gnocchi. It’s rich, tangy and bursting with flavor.
I don’t know how other working parent’s feel, but overwhelmed is my state of normal these days. Time is public enemy #1. I don’t have enough time to get my work done, I don’t have enough time to make meals and I definitely don’t have enough time to spend with Vander. I end most days exhausted and feeling like I’m just barely getting by on the things that matter most to me.
I know I’m lucky. I feel very fortunate that I’m able to be my own boss and make my own schedule, and I’m working hard at uncoupling the desire to be successful in my career with being successful as a mom. Is this what they mean when they say, ‘having it all?’ Somedays I feel like I do and other days… well, I most definitely don’t. I’m trying to define what that balance looks like for me and my family, not what I think it should look like.
That’s all to say that I know what a struggle getting dinner on the table each night can be. Even for someone who literally does this as her job, it’s hard. I play fast and loose with my own recipes, subbing in already cut produce or frozen vegetables where I can to save time. We order in pizza more than I’d like. I’m OK that I don’t make every spice blend or sauce from scratch anymore. This is my life as a new mom.
While I won’t promise that this gnocchi dish is super fast, it’s pretty easy. Besides slicing the mushrooms, overall prep is very minimal. The mushrooms take some time to cook down and brown, so let them do their thing while you play with your kids, clean up the kitchen or do whatever you want to do.
Gnocchi are one of my favorite pastas and I laugh that I used to make them for weeknight meals. Back in the day where I would happily open a bottle of wine and spend two hours on a Tuesday night. I hope when I told you that I did this regularly, you smiled and thought ‘just you wait.’ I get it now.
Single friends, you can absolutely make your own gnocchi. For everyone else, there’s the packaged kind which is delicious. I’m partial to the delallo brand if you can find it.
Add the cooked gnocchi to the skillet and spoon the yummy balsamic sauce over the little potato pillows so that they are coated in saucy goodness. I call for butter here and you can use whatever kind you’d like, but don’t omit it. It’s what makes the sauce and taking it out will leave you with a dry dish. You can add more, but not less!
That’s it. For my non-vegan friends, I think this dish tastes great with grated parmesan cheese or grated manchego tossed in. Either way, it’s a good one. Hope you enjoy it. xo
Balsamic Mushroom Gnocchi! This vegan or vegetarian dish is so delicious, perfect for Fall. Saucy balsamic mushroom sauce with gnocchi and fresh basil.
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