Chicken Sausage Gnocchi Hotpot
Transform comfort food with this lighter twist on a classic hotpot. This recipe combines savory chicken sausages with tender leeks and a creamy thyme-infused sauce, creating a dish that's both wholesome and satisfying.
Ingredients
- 500 g gnocchi
- 340 g chicken sausages or chipolatas such as Heck Chicken Italia
- 2 leeks cleaned, trimmed, and thickly sliced
- 450 ml chicken stock prepared with a stock cube or stockpot
- 60 g finely grated Gruyère cheddar, or Parmesan cheese
- 150 g frozen peas
- 2 tbsp half-fat crème fraîche
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme finely chopped (or 2 tsp dried thyme)
- 1 tbsp grain mustard
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 20 g butter
- 20 g plain flour
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (fan 180°C, gas mark 6).
- Cook the Sausages
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Using kitchen scissors, cut the sausages into bite-sized pieces (4-5 per sausage). Sear them over high heat until browned, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer the cooked sausage pieces to a 23cm baking dish.
- Soften the Leeks
- In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of butter. Stir in the leeks, followed by 50ml of the chicken stock and a pinch of seasoning. Cover the pan and cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, allowing the leeks to soften.
- Prepare the Sauce
- Melt the remaining 20g of butter in a separate saucepan. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute while stirring continuously. Gradually whisk in the rest of the chicken stock until a smooth consistency is achieved. Incorporate the grain mustard, thyme, and crème fraîche. Simmer gently for 2 minutes before stirring in the frozen peas and cooked leeks. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- Assemble the Dish
- Pour the sauce mixture into the baking dish, ensuring the sausage pieces are well-coated. Stir gently to combine. Scatter the gnocchi evenly across the top, straight from the package, and sprinkle with the grated cheese.
- Bake to Perfection
- Place the dish on a baking tray and bake for 25 minutes, or until the gnocchi topping turns golden and crispy.
- Optional Preparation Tip
- Prepare the dish up to the end of Step 5 a day in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator, and allow an additional 5-10 minutes of baking time when cooking from chilled.