If store-bought pesto didn't have cheese, this would be the ultimate in simplicity: gnocchi + pesto = love. But sadly, it's rare to find premade pesto without parmesan or asiago. I'd make pesto at home, but I rarely have enough fresh basil on hand to make a decent batch. Enter my local grocery store, which has packets of Simply Organic pesto sauce on hand, which (happily) are naturally cheese-free.
1 packet simply organic pesto sauce
1/3 cup pine nuts
1-2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
1 package potato gnocchi
Put on 4-6 cups salted water to boil. In a dry saucepan, toast the pine nuts for 5 minutes, or until they turn golden. Add the pesto sauce packet, 1/2 cup water, oil and yeast and stir until thickened. Remove from heat.
Once the water is boiling, drop the gnocchi in and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until they float to the surface. Drain, return to pot and toss with a little pesto sauce.
Serve immediately with a large salad and extra pesto sauce to top each serving with.
