Gnocchi with Cherry Tomatoes and Chicken

Choc full of flavor, this gluten free dish is easy to whip up at camp thanks to a few pre-cooked additions.

Ingredients – serves 2

1 package gluten free gnocchi, store bought (typically 12-16oz package)
8oz cherry tomatoes
6oz fresh baby spinach, large leaves torn, tough stems removed
1 cup pre-cooked chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup water
1/4 cup white wine (optional)
Neutral cooking oil
Salt to taste

Gear

Jetboil Genesis Basecamp with propane hook-up
Dometic Go or other method for a clean water source
Large pot with lid
Spatula or kitchen spoon
Plates and silverware for serving

Process

I’ve adapted this recipe to work at camp when you don’t have water to spare and you don’t want to dirty every pan you have. You’ll be adding just enough water to cook everything evenly, letting the cooking liquid become the sauce. Reference “Cooking Notes and Helpful Links” at the end for further recommendations on gear and ingredients.

Start by piercing the cherry tomatoes open a bit – this helps them cook without turning into exploding bombs of boiling hot juice.
Put the pot on a medium flame and let it heat up for 2-3 minutes.
Add about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil to the pan. I’m often working with a spray bottle (see below for my reason why) so just get really generous with the oil spray.
Add the tomatoes and a generous pinch of salt to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, covered. If the tomatoes are spitting too much feel free to lower the heat a bit.
Add the white wine, if using and let the alcohol cook off for a minute or so.
Add the water to the pot and continue to cook the tomatoes another few minutes, until broken down.

Add the gnocchi to the pot. They should be submerged in the liquid enough to cook through evenly, but not swimming or floating. This goes against traditional methods of preparing gnocchi, but it’s a way to essentially let your cooking liquid become your sauce.
Let the gnocchi cook for a few minutes, then add the chicken and stir to combine.
Follow package directions on your gnocchi’s cooking time, and test for doneness when they are soft, gooey pillows.

Make sure you’re cooking off all the excess water as things progress. You can be playing with keeping the lid on or off, raising or lowering the heat. The dish is forgiving! You want the gnocchi to be coated in a silky sauce by the end. Expect the cooking time to take a bit longer than the package description, but as always, keep a close eye on the pot since these conditions can be more unpredictable than your kitchen at home.
Right at the end, toss in the spinach, stir to combine and cover briefly to wilt.
Then add the shredded Parmesan and stir again.
Taste for salt and add more if needed.
Serve and enjoy!

Cooking Notes and Helpful Links

As always, remember that every camp stove is different, and can be less predictable than your stovetop at home. Keep a close eye on the pot, especially if you’re unfamiliar with your setup.
Our Dometic Go water faucet makes cooking and cleanup a dream.
My recommendation for the best silicone lid: Le Creuset Silicone Lid
Cooking oil: I’ve experimented with a few different brands and types of cooking spray. I prefer not to use generic “cooking spray”, but rather something that is a natural, healthy oil that also happens to be in a spray bottle. For cooking on top of a mountain with limited resources, a spray bottle is the best way to keep everything contained and easy. I don’t want to deal with a lid popping off and pouring oil all over the 4Runner. But with sprays, I’ve dealt with clogged nozzles, oils getting rancid quickly, and best of all, cold air causing the oil to solidify. That being said, my all-time favorite go-to is Good & Gather Avocado Oil Cooking Spray. Avocado oil has a high smoke-point meaning you can use it at high temperatures, unlike olive oil. It’s a very neutral oil, so it doesn’t lend flavors to the food. Good & Gather’s oil is expeller pressed with no additives and no propellants. And the nozzle actually works and keeps spraying even in cold weather.