For an elegant yet easy dinner recipe, why not try this One Pot Creamy Lemon Shrimp Gnocchi. It is ready in just 20 minutes and tastes like something you would get in a fine dining restaurant.
With just a few grocery store ingredients, you can create this simple shrimp gnocchi - Perfectly cooked shrimp/prawns, a creamy, rich lemon sauce, plenty of garlic, and pillow-soft gnocchi make this recipe delicious.
The creamy lemon sauce is rich and delicious, making this a great date night dinner. BUT this is so quick and easy that you could easily serve this one-pot shrimp gnocchi recipe as a family weeknight meal.
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What is Gnocchi?
Gnocchi are small dumplings made from mashed potatoes and flour (although many other varieties exist); when cooked, they are pillowy soft, tender 'clouds' that have a slight chew to them. Due to the potato and flour content, you need far less than you expect!
I like to use shelf-stable pre-packaged gnocchi. You can find it in the pasta aisle at the grocery store. It is usually vacuum-packed and lasts for several months in the pantry or cupboard.
It is quick to cook, plus for this recipe, it can be added to the sauce straight from the packet! No need to pre-cook!
Ingredient Tips
- Onion: I use a standard brown onion for this recipe, but you can use any onion you like here or swap the onion for leek or shallot.
- Shrimp: I always have a stash of 36/40 count, shelled and deveined shrimp in the freezer. They defrost quickly and are perfect for a quick dinner! Or you can use fresh shelled and deveined shrimp. Ensure if you are using frozen that they are fully defrosted before cooking. Be sure not to overcook the shrimp. Overcooked shrimp are rubbery!
- Lemons: Use fresh lemons here; rather than bottled lemon juice, you need to add the zest to the sauce, and the fresh juice will make the sauce taste better. Make sure you zest the lemons before you cut them open and juice them. It is very, very hard to zest a juiced lemon!
- Stock: I use either homemade shrimp stock or store-bought fish stock for this recipe, but you can use seafood, chicken, or vegetable broth. Better than Bouillon fish base or lobster base would be great too. (made up as directed)
- Heavy Cream: The recipe specifies heavy cream, and to be honest, I would not recommend trying to use half and half in its place here. There is a significant danger that the addition of lemon juice will split the sauce. This doesn't happen with heavy cream. You can use whipping cream as this has a high enough fat content to avoid splitting.
- Gnocchi: I like to use shelf-stable pre-packaged gnocchi. You can find it in the pasta aisle at the grocery store. It is usually vacuum-packed and lasts for several months in the pantry or cupboard. It is quick to cook and can be added to the sauce straight from the packet!
Sides for Shrimp Gnocchi
This is a decadent dish, and I do like to add some veggies or a salad.
- A simple green salad is always quick and easy.
- Roasted Broccoli would be a great choice. As would some Garlic Green Beans or Steamed Asparagus.
- For something to mop up the extra sauce, try some garlic bread or buttery breadsticks.
What wine to drink with Shrimp Gnocchi
For me, this creamy shrimp screams for something fun and bubbly. I like to pick a prosecco or an Australian/Californian sparkling wine. The bubbles help to balance the cream sauce, plus they add to the decadence of the meal!
Those not wishing to have bubbles a crisp, dry Frascati, or a dry Soave, will balance the lemon in the sauce. A dry French rose is also a great choice.
Enjoy x
For more gnocchi recipes try:
- Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi
- One Pot Creamy Tomato Salmon Gnocchi
- Creamy Chicken Gnocchi with Spinach
- Baked Pumpkin Gnocchi with Thyme and Parmesan
And for more shrimp dishes why not try:
- Shrimp Chorizo Pasta
- Spicy Shrimp Pasta
- Lemon Pepper Shrimp Pasta
- Bacon Shrimp Pasta
- Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta
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Creamy Lemon Shrimp Gnocchi Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 small onion -see note 1
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup broth -see note 3
- 1 lemon -see note 2
- 1 cup heavy cream -see note 4
- 1 pound store-bought gnocchi, uncooked -see note 5
- 1 pound raw shrimp (peeled and deveined ) -see note 6
- Salt & pepper
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Finely chop the onion and garlic.
1 onion
3 garlic cloves - Place a large deep skillet or saute pan over medium heat, add the olive oil and then fry the onion for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for a minute.
1 tablespoon olive oil - Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. While the broth is coming to a simmer, zest, and juice the lemon
. ½ cup/125ml broth/stock
1 lemon - Add the lemon juice and most of the zest to the pan, pour in the heavy cream and bring the sauce to a very gentle boil.
1 cup/250ml heavy cream/double cream - Add the gnocchi, then cover the pan and cook over medium-low heat for 4 minutes.
1lb/500g gnocchi - Remove the lid, Give the gnocchi a good stir, then add the shrimp. Stir well and cook uncovered on low heat for 3 minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through. Be sure to stir your sauce regularly while cooking the shrimp.
1lb/450g raw shrimp/prawns - Season with salt and pepper and serve garnished with parsley and the remaining lemon zest.
salt and pepper
fresh parsley
Notes
- Onion - I use a standard brown onion for this recipe, but you can use any onion you like here or swap the onion for leek or shallot.
- Lemons - Use fresh lemons here; rather than the bottles of juice, you need to add the zest to the sauce, and the fresh juice will make the sauce taste better. Make sure you zest the lemons before you cut them open and juice them. It is very, very hard to zest a juiced lemon!
- Broth/Stock - I use either homemade shrimp stock or store-bought fish stock for this recipe, but you can use seafood, chicken, or vegetable broth. Better than Bouillon fish base or lobster base would be great too. (made up as directed)
- Heavy Cream - The recipe specifies heavy cream, and to be honest, I would not recommend trying to use half and half in its place here. There is a significant danger that the addition of lemon juice will split the sauce. This doesn't happen with heavy cream. You can use whipping cream or double cream as these both have a high enough fat content to avoid splitting.
- Gnocchi – I like to use shelf-stable pre-packaged gnocchi. You can find it in the pasta aisle at the grocery store. It is usually vacuum-packed and lasts for several months in the pantry or cupboard. It is quick to cook and can be added to the sauce straight from the packet! No need to precook!
- Shrimp – I always have a stash of 36/40 count, shelled and deveined shrimp in the freezer. They defrost quickly and are perfect for a quick dinner! Or you can use fresh shelled and deveined shrimp. Ensure if you are using frozen that they are fully defrosted before cooking. Be sure not to over-cook the shrimp. Overcooked shrimp are rubbery!
Prajakta Sukhatme says
Was struggling with what to make for dinner tonight. Had a pack of gnocchi in pantry and frozen shrimps. This meal came out beautifully. Thank you for sharing fabulous one pot meal.
Claire McEwen says
Thank you 🙂
So happy you enjoyed it. It is one of my favourite quick suppers
Cx
Sophia says
This recipe was so quick and easy and so good! Definitely a keeper, thank you!
Claire McEwen says
So happy you enjoyed it Sophia 🙂
Cx