Gnocchi and Gorgonzola "Pie" with Sunday Sauce

Gnocchi and Gorgonzola "Pie"
with Sunday Sauce

I cannot tell a lie - this "pie" is very rich; richer than I normally post here on Just for Cooking.  My Sunday sauce is where you will save the calories.  The secret:  Fresh ingredients, it's low sodium but packed with flavor, and it's made with ground chicken breast. 

This sauce takes a little time - that is why I call this a "Sunday Sauce," - but you can always make it the night before or make it and freeze it until you are ready to use it in this recipe.  The assembly and baking of the Gnocchi pie only takes minutes.  If you have the sauce ready, you can even make this on a busy weeknight.

Oh, and by the way, my friend from work today pointed out that most of the dishes I make are made with some sort of alcohol.  Maybe I should change the name of this blog to "Just for Cooking with Booze."  ;.)

Here I go again --

For the Sunday Sauce:

2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 pound Ground Chicken Breast
1 tablespoon Onion Powder
1/2 teaspoon All Spice
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
1/2 tablespoon Crushed Red Pepper
1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
2 cloves fresh Garlic, minced
1/8 cup Dry White Wine
1 28 ounce can Crushed Plum Shaped Tomato in Juice
1/2 cup Beef Broth
Sea Salt, to taste
1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup 2% Milk

For the Gnocchi Pie:

2 1/2 cups Sunday Sauce
1 pound Gnocchi
3 ounces crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese
Fresh Basil or Oregano (or both) for garnish

In a large sauce pot, add oil and ground chicken.  Brown chicken over medium heat, approximately five minutes.

Add onion powder,  All Spice, black pepper, crushed red pepper and Italian Seasoning.  Cook for three-to-four more minutes.

Add minced garlic.  Cook for one more minute.

Add wine.  Deglaze pan by scraping the browned bits from the bottom.

Add tomatoes and juice.  Break up the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon.

Add broth and sea salt. 

Bring to boil and reduce to simmer.  Cover and cook for at least four hours (longer if you have the time), stirring occasionally. 

Stir in Parmesan Cheese and milk right before serving.

To make the pie:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Ladle sauce on the bottom of 9 inch pie pan. 
Top with cooked Gnocchi
Top with Gorgonzola cheese.
Ladle more sauce around the rim of the pie.

Bake for 15 - 20 minutes until Gorgonzola is golden.

Top with fresh herbs (optional).