Baked Gnocchi with Bacon, Tomato, and Mozzarella

Ingredients

• 1 package (500 g) store-bought gnocchi
• 1 cup (250 g) bacon, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 medium sized tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
• Handful cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2-3 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• Large handful fresh parsley, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup (100 g) mozzarella, sliced

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and prepare gnocchi. 

In the meantime, make the sauce: In a a large hot frying pan, fry the bacon until starting to crisp with the fat rendered. Pour off most of the fat then add the garlic and smoked paprika and fry for 30 seconds. Add all the tomatoes and the sugar and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the heavy whipping cream, parsley, and seasoning. 

Add the cooked gnocchi to the sauce in an oven-proof dish and top with the sliced mozzarella. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes until the mozzarella is melted and golden. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. 

*This recipe yeilds 2-3 servings. Double the ingredients to fill a 9x11 inch pan :)