Sage Cream Sauce

I made gnocchi for the first time last week, and the first sauce I made to go with them was a sage cream sauce.  Gnocchi go great with all kinds of sauces, but especially with cream sauces, I think.  I have been wanting to use my (Aerogarden) sage plant to make fried sage, and I figured this was the perfect opportunity to give that a try.  So, I made a simple cream sauce flavored with fried sage, and it turned out absolutely delicious!  It sounds fancy, but it was one of the simplest sauces I've ever made.  Here's the recipe:

Gnocchi with Sage Cream Sauce
2 servings potato gnocchi
2 T butter
1 T olive oil
2 T onion, finely minced
2 small or 1 large garlic clove
about 10 small or 6 large sage leaves
1 tsp fresh tarragon or parsley, chopped
salt, pepper, crushed red pepper
1/2 cup cream or half and half

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  In a large pan or saucepan, heat oil and butter on medium heat and add onions, sage leaves, and whole garlic cloves.  Season with a dash each of salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper.  Cook sage leaves about two minutes, then remove with tongs and drain on paper towels.  Cook onions until soft.  Remove garlic cloves with tongs and discard. 

Add gnocchi in two or three batches to the boiling water and boil until they float.  As gnocchi float, scoop them out and transfer to the butter sauce in the saucepan..  When all the gnocchi are in the saucepan, add cream and fresh herbs, and stir.  Season to taste; top with crispy sage leaves.


Frying sage is as delicious as it sounds like it would be.  Gnocchi with cream sauce is definitely not one of those dinners for the days you feel like you're supposed to be eating fresher, healthier foods.  But it sure is good!
Happy eating!