Sweet potato gnocchi in sage brown butter sauce (vegetarian & vegan option)

These sweet potato gnocchi are vegan. Although the sauce here is made with butter, you can eat these gnocchi with any sauce, or vegetable garnish you like. Even just with a skillet of olive oil, some salt, pepper and Italian herbs!

I hope I won't offend any Italians here with the way I'm doing my gnocchi, but remember, I'm just sharing some good recipes that work for me!

Here's what you need for about 4 servings :

- 1 big sweet potato or 2 smaller one's

- 125 g / 1 cup of plain flour

- 125 g / 1 cup of semolina flour

(You can also use only plain flour (250 g) if you don't have semolina flour in hand)

- Salt

- A fork to shape the gnocchi

- A large bowl

Here's what you need for the sage brown butter sauce :

- 8 tbsp / 115 g / 1/2 cup salted butter

- 1 bunch of sage

- Extra-virgin olive oil

- 1/2 lemon

- Pepper

• Preheat your oven on 400 F (200 C). With a fork or a knife put some holes in the sweet potato.

• Cook them for about 40 min to an hour, depending on the size of your potatoes and the power of your oven.

• Let them cool down and peel off the skin.

• With a fork or in a food processor, mush your sweet potato until they turn into puree.

• Put your sweet potato mash into a bowl. Add your flour, a pinch of salt and combine everything until it forms a dough.

• Work the dough a little bit but do not overwork. Add some flour if needed, put the dough aside and let it rest for 20 min.

• Split the dough into 4 equal pieces and roll each piece out into a thin log. If it get's sticky add a bit of flour.

• Cut the logs into small even pieces and flour them.

Now it's time to shape your gnocchi!

• Take one piece of dough, flour it a bit if its too sticky.

• Use the back of a fork, put a small piece of dough on it and with your finger press and roll it on the fork to give your gnocchi those very recognizable stripes.

• Prepare a pot of salted water and bring it to boil. Remember that it's the water that should salt your gnocchi, so add as much salt as needed. I like to use kosher salt, it's much better for cooking than regular table salt.

• Cook your gnocchi for about 3 to 4 min. Pour your pasta out of the liquid and remember to reserve some of the water as that starchy water will help you create your sauce.

• Heat up a bit of olive oil in a pan on medium heat. Add your gnocchi and cook them until they get that crispy coating.

Brown butter sauce is a very easy and highly flavored sauce to make, it's perfect to accompany any pasta, ravioli or gnocchi dish.

• Prepare your sage leaves and squeeze your lemon.

• Keep about 10 ml of starchy water.

• Heat up a pan on medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add your butter.

• Once your butter is melted add your sage leaves, this will flavor your butter and add a crispy texture to your dish.

• When your butter turns brown and gets a nutty smell, this should take about 4 minutes, it's ready.

• Add your gnocchi, combine and cook everything together for a few seconds.

• Turn off the heat, add a dash of olive oil, your starchy water and your lemon juice. you don't want your sauce to be too acidic, so add half of the juice first, taste and add more if needed.

• Plate your dish and add lots of pepper.

ENJOY!