I’ll be honest in saying that anytime I’ve had gnocchi before, it’s usually been in an Italian soup or as part of a Mediterranean sheet pan. Which, both are amazing. It did make me wonder though - why don’t I use gnocchi more often as a part of other cuisine styles? Enter Cheeseburger Gnocchi. Gnocchi are lovely little pillows of pasta that are usually made at least partially with potato or some other vegetable. It kind of makes them a really good filler or substitute for traditional pasta.

This Cheeseburger Gnocchi starts off with the gnocchi which is sautéed quickly in a pan and then set aside. After that? It’s cooking up all the meat and veggies. I kept this light by using a whole lot of onion and a lean ground beef instead of, well, not lean. After a quick simmer, the cheese and cream is added and you end up with a perfectly cheesy burger dish!…

I think the first time that I learned of a Kofta was about a year or two ago amidst one of the many reality cooking TV shows that I frequently watch; which is one of the sources that I get so much of my inspiration from. I thought it sounded pretty great! A seasoned meatloaf or meatball on a stick? Perfect!

Still don't know what a Kofta is? Well, it's basically a mixture of meat, bread crumbs or rice, and spices to form into meatballs or skewered patties. There are a lot of variations out there, but today I'm going with a healthier play on a turkey Kofta with a sort of Greek or Lebanese twist. I added in chopped onions, egg, and some traditional spices to the meat, and served it with a lemon tahini sauce on the side.

I would have served it with some tzatziki, but I am not a fan at all of cucumbers. Sorry all!...