Gnocchi with spinach and mozzarella au gratin in an air fryer

Do you get home with no time, no desire, or, let’s be honest, a little bit of laziness? Don’t worry, no one is judging here. These air fryer gratin gnocchi with spinach and mozzarella cost €2.75 per person, are made with things you can find in any supermarket, and you barely make a mess.

A hearty, easy dinner without dirtying up the kitchen. What more could you want from me?

It’s another recipe from my Tricks and Tweaks series, the one for everyday fixes for those who don’t have the time, the desire, or, well, for those of you who are a little bit lazy. Three main characters and not one more: store-bought gnocchi, frozen creamed spinach, and a mozzarella. And on top, a very special breadcrumb gratin with extra virgin olive oil that browns quickly in the air fryer and uses less energy.

The result? Creamy gnocchi, well embraced by the spinach and melted mozzarella, with a crunch on top that suits them wonderfully.

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Main ingredients

For 3 people

⏱ Preparation time: 10 min
⏱ Cooking time: 17 min

• 500 g gnocchi
• 450 g frozen creamed spinach
• 1 mozzarella
• Breadcrumbs
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt

My shopping bill: mozzarella, €0.90; gnocchi, €1; creamed spinach, €2.25. You surely already have the rest in your pantry.

Remember: At the end of the article, you will find the complete recipe card with detailed cooking and preparation times.

 

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How to prepare air fryer gratin gnocchi with spinach and mozzarella

First, the secret trick: drain the mozzarella

Before turning anything on, cut the mozzarella into cubes and leave it in a colander while you prepare everything else. This way it loses excess water and doesn’t soak your dish.

Cook the creamed spinach

Put a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil in the pan and, as soon as it is hot, add the frozen creamed spinach. Stir occasionally and let it cook for about 8 minutes. And watch out, taste it: these creams usually come a bit bland, so add salt to your liking if necessary.

Boil the gnocchi until they float

Meanwhile, bring the water to a boil and, when it bubbles, add the salt. Add the gnocchi and cook them for about 3 minutes. The sign is very easy: as soon as they float, they are ready. Drain them very well.

Mix off the heat

Remove the pan from the heat, add the gnocchi to the creamed spinach, and mix gently so as not to break them. Then, incorporate the well-drained mozzarella cubes and distribute them gently.

Prepare the breadcrumb gratin

Transfer everything to a container suitable for an oven or air fryer. Since the dish already has cream and mozzarella, it doesn’t need more cheese. Mix a little breadcrumb with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, so it soaks well, and spread it on top.

To the air fryer

Cook at 190 ºC for 8-9 minutes, until the surface is well browned. Take it out and look how beautiful it is.

Serve and enjoy

Plate it immediately, which is when the contrast between the creamy and the crunchy is at its best. And you will see that it is truly hearty: three good portions come out of the dish.

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Tricks and tips for perfect spinach gnocchi

Always taste the creamed spinach

Frozen creamed spinach usually lacks salt. Taste it while it cooks and adjust to your liking, because later, with the gnocchi inside, it is more difficult to correct.

Drain the mozzarella and gnocchi well

Leaving the mozzarella in the colander for a good while and thoroughly draining the gnocchi prevents excess water from ending up in the dish. This way the dish remains creamy and not watery.

Mix with care and with the pan off the heat

Freshly cooked gnocchi are delicate. Also, if you mix away from the heat, the mozzarella doesn’t melt ahead of time and arrives whole in the air fryer.

Soak the breadcrumbs well

The secret to the gratin is to mix the breadcrumbs with the oil before spreading it. This way it browns evenly and gives the spinach gnocchi that delicious crunch.

Why the air fryer?

Because it browns quickly and uses less energy than turning on the oven. If you don’t have one, you can use the oven with a suitable container and brown until the surface is golden.

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