Gnocchi and asparagus with a devious butter

Name: Gnocchi and asparagus with a devious butter
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 3 servings
Ingredients: 1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil; 1 × 16 oz package shelf-stable potato gnocchi (16 to 18 oz); 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened; 2 tbsp white miso; 2 tsp sherry vinegar; black pepper; 1 bunch asparagus, tough ends trimmed, cut into ½-inch lengths (about 1 lb); salt; 2 cup baby arugula, pea shoots or other tender greens, packed

Fifteen minutes, one skillet and a butter with a secret.

At a Glance

Time

15 min

Serves

Story

Shelf-stable gnocchi never needs to see boiling water. Seared straight from the package in a covered skillet, the pillows crisp outside and stay chewy within, better texture than boiling gives them, in a fraction of the time. The miso butter with its splash of sherry vinegar melts over the hot pan into an instant glossy sauce.

Ingredients

1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
1 × 16 oz package shelf-stable potato gnocchi16 to 18 oz
4 tbsp unsalted buttersoftened
2 tbsp white miso
2 tsp sherry vinegar
black pepper
1 bunch asparagustough ends trimmed, cut into ½-inch lengths (about 1 lb)
salt
2 cup baby arugulapea shoots or other tender greens, packed

Method

The pantry pasta that behaves like a restaurant dish. Ten minutes of actual cooking, most of it spent admiring yourself.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium high. Break apart any gnocchi clinging to each other, add them in an even layer, cover and cook undisturbed until golden underneath and no longer sticking, 2 to 4 minutes. Resist the urge to poke.
Meanwhile, smash the butter, miso, vinegar and a few grinds of pepper together in a small bowl.
Add the asparagus and a pinch of salt to the skillet and cook, stirring here and there, until bright green and crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Kill the heat, drop in the miso butter by spoonfuls and stir until every pillow is glossed. Season, then fold in the arugula and let it barely wilt.

Serve immediately, straight from the skillet if there are fewer than three of you and no witnesses. Serves three properly, four with a fried egg on top.

On the pass