Vegan Mexican Casserole With Gnocchi

Vegan Mexican Gnocchi casserole is an easy Italian Mexican fusion recipe! Serve it as a breakfast casserole or as a weeknight vegan dinner! This casserole is loaded with flavors from both cuisines and can be made in a skillet!

Course Breakfast, dinner

Cuisine Italian, Mexican

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Servings people

Calories 340.09kcal

Author Priya Lakshminarayan

Equipment

skillet

Ingredients

To prep the gnocchi

10 oz cauliflower gnocchi
1 tablespoon olive oil

To prepare the black bean sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil
7-8 cloves garlic
1 onion
2 tomatoes
15 oz canned black beans
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon Mexican seasoning
½ cup salsa
salt

To assemble the casserole

½ tablespoon olive oil
1 cup tortilla chips
⅓ cup cheese
2 tablespoon cilantro

Instructions

To prep the gnocchi

Boil water in a skillet and add the gnocchi in it. Cook as per instructions on the packet. Once they begin to float, drain the water.
Immediately, stir-fry them in oil, in the same pan. Fry till they turn light golden on bot sides. Fry them in batches if needed and do not stir them often. Transfer to a plate when done.

To prepare the black bean sauce

Heat oil in the pan. Fry minced garlic till they turn light golden. Then add chopped onions. Saute till they turn translucent.
Add tomatoes and salt. Cook till they turn soft and pulpy.
Drain the black beans from the can and add to the pan. Mix and cook for 2 minutes.
Now add the spices like cumin powder, cajun seasoning, Mexican seasoning and salsa. Mix and cook for another minute and then transfer to another plate.

To assemble the casserole

Take the pan off the flame, drizzle oil and then add crushed tortilla chips. Cover the whole pan with the chips.
Then layer it with cooked gnocchi.
Spread the black bean mixture all over it.
Top it with grated cheese and cilantro. Do not mix. Place the pan on the flame, cover and cook for 1-2 minutes on medium flame.
Once the cheese melts and is golden and bubbly on top, take the pan off the flame.

Notes

You can add spices of your choice to make it palatable to you. If you are not vegan, use regular Mexican cheese and potato gnocchi (most are made with eggs).

Add as much or as little cheese you want. Instead of tortilla chips, you can also use soft tortillas. If needed, you can directly pan-fry the gnocchi without boiling them.

Use fresh or canned tomato puree, sauce, or even enchilada sauce instead of fresh tomatoes. To give it an Indian flavor, use Makhani sauce! Yum!

To make this vegan Mexican casserole more hearty, you can also add TVP, millets like quinoa or teff, rice, cauliflower rice, vegan meat, or even lentils!

You can totally add this to your tacos or make them into wraps and have your Mexican or Tex Mex themed party! They taste delicious, especially with leftovers!

Nutrition