Dish guides
What are gnocchi?
Gnocchi (say NYOHK-kee) are soft Italian dumplings, usually made from potato, wheat flour and often egg, boiled and served like pasta with a sauce. On menus they sit with the primi, for example gnocchi alla sorrentina (baked with tomato and mozzarella) or gnocchi al pesto.
- At a glance
- Gnocchi
- Soft potato dumplings served like pasta, with tomato, butter, pesto or ragù.
- Pronunciation
- Say it like NYOHK-kee · IPA /ˈɲɔkki/
- Also written as
- gnocchi di patate, gnocchi alla sorrentina, gnocchi al pesto, gnocchi al forno, gnocchi al gorgonzola, gnocchi alla romana, homemade gnocchi
What’s in it
Core ingredients
- potatoes
- wheat flour
- salt
Often added
- egg in the dough
- tomato and basil sauce
- mozzarella (alla sorrentina)
- butter and sage
- gorgonzola
- pesto
- meat ragù
- semolina, milk and parmigiano (gnocchi alla romana)
Allergens
| Allergen | How likely |
|---|---|
| Gluten | Typically contains |
| Eggs | Often contains |
| Dairy | Often contains |
| Tree nuts | Sometimes contains |
| Celery | Sometimes contains |
| Peanuts | Rarely contains |
| Shellfish | Rarely contains |
| Fish | Rarely contains |
| Soy | Rarely contains |
| Sesame | Rarely contains |
| Diet | Suitable? |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Depends — Depends on the sauce: tomato, butter and sage, gorgonzola or pesto are meat-free, ragù isn't. Most Italian hard cheeses use animal rennet. |
| Vegan | Depends — Only egg-free potato gnocchi with a tomato or oil-based sauce and no cheese; ask about egg in the dough. |
| Pescatarian | Depends — Fine with vegetable, cheese or seafood sauces, not with ragù or sausage. |
| Halal | Depends — Depends on the sauce; ragù and sausage sauces usually contain pork or non-halal meat. |
| Kosher | Depends — Depends on the sauce and the cheese; meat sauces with cheese on top don't fit kosher rules. |
| Gluten-free | No |
Allergen and calorie details are AI estimates based on the menu and typical recipes. They can be incomplete — if you have a serious allergy, always check with the staff.
What gnocchi are made of
The most common gnocchi are gnocchi di patate: boiled, mashed floury potatoes kneaded with wheat flour, a pinch of salt and, in many recipes, an egg. The dough is rolled into ropes, cut into small pillows and often pressed against a fork or a ridged board so the sauce clings. They cook in a minute or two and float when ready. Good gnocchi are light and tender, never gummy.
The word covers other dumplings too. Gnocchi alla romana are baked rounds of semolina cooked in milk with butter and parmigiano, and many regions have their own versions made with ricotta, pumpkin, spinach or bread.
Thursday is gnocchi day
In Rome, an old saying runs giovedì gnocchi, venerdì pesce: gnocchi on Thursday, fish on Friday. Some traditional trattorie still serve potato gnocchi only on Thursdays, so don't be surprised if they're missing from the menu on other days. Elsewhere they're available all week, and many restaurants make them by hand.
Typical price
Median price 14 EUR
Typical range 9–19.5 EUR.
Median of 51 menus, 2025-04 – 2026-04. Basis: Italian-language menus scanned with MenuGuide; all gnocchi dishes.
How to order it
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vorrei gli gnocchi alla sorrentina, per favore. | I'd like the gnocchi alla sorrentina, please. |
| Gli gnocchi sono fatti con l'uovo? | Are the gnocchi made with egg? |
| Ci sono noci o pinoli nel sugo? | Are there walnuts or pine nuts in the sauce? |
Not to be confused with
- Gnocchi alla romana — Baked discs of semolina, milk, butter and parmigiano, not potato dumplings.
- Gnudi — Tuscan ricotta and spinach dumplings with very little flour.
- Malloreddus — Sardinian semolina pasta sometimes called gnocchetti sardi; no potato.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce gnocchi?
Say NYOHK-kee. The gn sounds like the ny in canyon, never a hard g, and the cch is a hard k sound held slightly longer. In IPA it's [ˈɲɔkki]. Gnocchi is already plural; one dumpling is a gnocco.
Are gnocchi pasta?
Not exactly. Gnocchi are dumplings, usually made from potato and flour rather than just flour and water or egg, so they're softer and denser than pasta. Italians treat them like pasta, though: they're boiled, served with the same sauces and listed with the primi, the pasta and rice courses.
Are gnocchi gluten free?
Usually not. Potato gnocchi contain wheat flour to hold the dough together, and gnocchi alla romana are made from wheat semolina. Gluten-free gnocchi made with rice or corn flour exist and some Italian restaurants offer them, but you have to ask. Check the sauce too, since some are thickened with flour.
Do gnocchi contain egg?
Often, but not always. Many potato gnocchi recipes add an egg to bind the dough, while others use only potato, flour and salt. Gnocchi alla romana typically include egg yolks. If you're allergic, ask "Gli gnocchi sono fatti con l'uovo?" (Are the gnocchi made with egg?) before ordering.
What are gnocchi alla sorrentina?
Gnocchi alla sorrentina are potato gnocchi baked in tomato sauce with mozzarella and basil until the cheese melts and bubbles, often in a small terracotta dish. They come from Sorrento, near Naples, and are one of the most common gnocchi dishes on Italian menus. They contain no meat, but they do contain gluten and dairy.
