Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi
Sun-dried tomatoes have a deep, sweet-tart flavor that stands out even in a rich sauce. They also bring something fresh tomatoes don't: a pleasantly chewy bite beside soft gnocchi.
Why they belong with cream
Cream softens the tomatoes' sharpness without making their flavor disappear. Small pieces punctuate an otherwise smooth sauce, so each bite isn't quite the same. That contrast is part of the appeal of creamy Marry Me gnocchi and related chicken or sausage dishes. The tomatoes do more than give a pale sauce a little color.
The red pesto side
In pesto, sun-dried tomato becomes the flavor of the coating itself. Nuts bring body and a different kind of richness from cream. The result feels closer to a savory paste than a flowing red sauce, with concentrated flavor around the ridges of each gnocchi. It is a good fit for a plate where beans or greens remain in separate pieces.
