Change Up the Sauces

• A tomato-based sauce is the classic accompaniment for gnocchi and beef, but you can also use a cheesy Alfredo sauce. It sinks into the crevices of the gnocchi and complements the beef. Or, add beef gravy made from the pan drippings when you saute the beef. If you don't have enough drippings, dump a can of low-sodium beef broth in the saute pan. Cook over medium-high heat until the broth is reduced by half.

Steal From Other Dishes

• Let other dishes inspire your own creation of gnocchi and beef. Go for a Philly cheese steak flavor by adding cheddar cheese, sauteed peppers and onions to the beef and gnocchi. Alternatively, use beef stroganoff as an inspiration for a dish comprising hot, drained gnocchi, mixed with sour cream or nonfat yogurt and sliced, cooked mushrooms. Lay the beef strips on top of the gnocchi mixture and garnish with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of chopped parsley. For a Greek-themed dish, combine gnocchi with chopped Kalamata olives, feta cheese, olive oil, fresh chunks of green peppers and cubes of cooked beef.

Italian Inspiration

• Make an Italian shepherd's pie with gnocchi instead of mashed potatoes as the crust. Layer the gnocchi on the bottom of a baking pan sprayed with cooking oil, and top with a layer of cooked corn, then ground beef, and finally another layer of gnocchi. Pour a can of cream of mushroom, celery or tomato soup over the pie and bake it until bubbly. Or, make a lasagna, with layers of gnocchi, ricotta cheese, ground beef and drained frozen spinach. Cover with marinara sauce and sprinkle it with cheese; bake until the dish is heated through. To make a stuffed cannelloni-style dish, use eggplant strips cut lengthwise into long wide strips, dipped into boiling water to soften them. Place the gnocchi and cooked beef on the end of an eggplant strip and roll it up. Cover the stuffed eggplant strips with your favorite pasta sauce and bake it until the eggplant is tender.

Stew It Up

• Gnocchi are a cross between flour- or semolina-based pasta and a potato dumpling, so use the gnocchi as a finishing touch for beef stew instead of potatoes, dumplings or biscuits. As the gnocchi heat up in the stew, they thicken the gravy, but don't overcook them. Add them to your favorite beef stew recipe during the last 10 to 20 minutes of cooking. If you use a slow cooker, add the gnocchi during the last 30 to 40 minutes of cooking.