Creamy Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Sausage, Thyme, and Sage

 

12 oz Italian sausage casings removed (I used 3 sausage links)

1 T. olive oil

10 oz potato gnocchi

1 C. heavy cream

½ C. chicken broth

1 C. butternut squash puree

3 cloves garlic minced

2 T. fresh sage chopped

2 T. fresh thyme

salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste

 

Remove sausage from casings and slice it. Heat 1 T. of olive oil on medium heat in a large, high-sided skillet. Add sliced sausage and cook on medium heat for about 4 minutes on one side, without turning, to get the sausage slices browned. Flip over to the other side and cook for 2 more minutes. To the same skillet with sausage, add uncooked potato gnocchi, heavy cream, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil on medium heat and stir everything well. Cover with lid, and allow the gnocchi to cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat, while the sauce boils. To the same pan with gnocchi and sausage, add butternut squash puree, and minced garlic. Bring the sauce to a boil on medium heat, reduce to low-medium heat, stir everything well. Cook for about 3 or more minutes. Make sure the gnocchi are cooked through, the garlic is cooked to your liking, and the sauce thickens. Cook longer if you would like a thicker sauce. Remove from heat. Stir in half of the fresh sage and half of the fresh thyme. Season with salt and freshly ground coarse black pepper. Tip: use your best judgment about the salt. If the sausage is salty enough, you might not need to add any extra salt. When serving, top with the remaining half of the fresh sage and the remaining half of the fresh thyme.