Chinese style salt and pepper air fried gnocchi

I made a video of air fried gnocchi and it went viral on tiktok (proud moment for my under 2k followers account). Following this I had the thought of making some flavoured air fried gnocchi and came up with the classic Chinese takeaway ‘salt and pepper’.

Salt and pepper seasoning on chips works perfectly and seeing as gnocchi is made from potato and flour of course this combination is SO good. The addition of bell peppers and onions that cook perfectly in the air fryer also make this into a little more of a colorful side dish.

I had a lot of questions on the cooking method and the fact that I didn’t make gnocchi from scratch but guys this is supposed to be a quick and easy throw together snack. The shelf stable shop bought stuff, seasoned and chucked into the air fryer straight from the packet is perfectly fine.

I dipped my salt and pepper gnocchi into some Chinese style curry sauce and ate as a snack. If you loved air fried gnocchi part one I promise you will love this ten times more!

If you think up some killer combos for air fried gnocchi flavours please do share them with me on instagram here.

Salt and chilli gnocchi ingredients and substitutes-

• Gnocchi- Regular store bought gnocchi will work perfectly for this recipe. I recommend Aldi gnocchi for a dairy free option. You can use shelf stable, refrigerated or make your own if you’re feeling fancy.
• Bell peppers- I used red and green peppers for a balance of sweetness and slight bitterness. These cook until perfectly soft in the air frier however if you prefer a little bit of bite to your peppers add in a little later than the rest of the ingredients. You could also use yellow peppers or omit all together if you wish.
• Oil- I use a neutral flavoured oil for this gnocchi. Don’t omit the oil as it helps the seasoning to stick to the gnocchi. You can use fry light but it needs to be enough to help the seasoning stick.
• White sugar- The sugar balances out the salty element of the salt and MSG. You can also use brown sugar or powder sweetener.
• MSG- MSG gives Chinese food its distinctive savoury flavour and it’s the secret to takeaway flavours at home. It can be bought in Chinese shops or online.

FAQ-

• Can I make this spicy? If you like spice feel free to add some chilli flakes to the seasoning mix. This will give a more salt and chilli style seasoning.
• Can I use a shop bought seasoning?- Sure, if you like you can buy a salt an pepper pre mix seasoning packet but still use the oil to help it stick to the gnocchi and bell peppers.
• I don’t have an air fryer how else can I make this?- Follow all the instructions up until air frying. Pour the seasoned gnocchi onto a lined baking sheet and bake in the oven on 180C for 10-15 minutes turning half way through cooking.

Chinese style salt and pepper air fried gnocchi

Gnocchi, bell peppers and onion coated in a Chinese style salt and pepper seasoning and air fried to perfection.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Chinese, Italian

Servings 2

Ingredients

  

• 500 g Gnocchi
• ½ A red bell pepper
• ½ A green bell pepper
• 3 tbsp oil
• 1 white onion
• Sesame seeds to garnish

For the seasoning-

• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp White sugar
• 1 tsp White pepper
• 1 tsp MSG
• 1 tsp Garlic powder
• 1 tbsp Chinese 5 spice

Instructions

 

• Dice the peppers and onions into chunks a similar size to the gnocchi pieces.
• Add the gnocchi to a large bowl and separate the pieces making sure none are stuck together.
• To the bowl add in the bell peppers, onion, oil and seasonings and give it all a really good mix making sure all the gnocchi is coated.
• Air fry on 180C for 10 minutes for a softer gnocchi. Add on more time if you’d like it a little more crispy.
• Serve up topped with sesame seeds.
• Enjoy!

Notes

Air frying- All air fryers give different results, as always with air frying you’ll need to keep a close eye on the food when cooking making sure to shake the gnocchi often to ensure an even cook.

Video

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A post shared by Abbie Taylor (@theplantbowls.au)

If you loved this recipe you should take a look at some of my other recipes

• Creamy spinach pasta with tofu ricotta
• Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Indian Butter Sauce
• Spicy Sausage Pasta