Gnocchi Nicoise - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 ounces bacon, diced
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1/2 lb coarsely ground beef (look for \"chili grind\")
2 tablespoons brandy or 2 tablespoons red wine
3 shallots, chopped
1 cup diced carrot
1 stalk celery, sliced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 (15 ounce) can plum tomatoes
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
1 bay leaf
2 slices orange peel, about 1 inch each
2/3 cup nicoise olive, pitted and chopped
1 lb vacuum-packed gnocchi

Preparation

Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and garlic; cook until the bacon starts to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the ground beef; cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add the brandy, shallots, carrots, celery and tomato paste; cook until the vegetables soften, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Crush the tomatoes into the pan with your hands and add any juices from the can. Stir in the broth, bay leaf, orange peel and olives. Bring to a simmer and lower the heat; cover and cook 20 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat and bring to a boil to thicken the sauce.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil the gnocchi until one floats to the top, about 1 minute. Drain immediately to prevent the gnocchi from becoming mushy. Remove the orange peel and bay leaf from the sauce and season with salt and pepper. Toss the gnocchi with the sauce.