Description
Creamy butternut squash and sage pasta delivers an elegant Italian-inspired comfort meal packed with seasonal warmth. Parmesan-dusted noodles invite you to savor autumn’s most delightful culinary embrace.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 cups / 480 milliliters diced)
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (fettuccine or penne)
- 12 cup (120 milliliters) freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Flavor Enhancers:
- 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- 4 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
Seasonings:
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°F (200°C) for optimal roasting temperature.
- Transform butternut squash by carefully removing skin and cutting into consistent, bite-sized cubes.
- Drizzle olive oil over squash cubes, seasoning generously with salt and pepper; distribute evenly across baking sheet.
- Roast squash in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until golden and tender, developing rich caramelized edges.
- Simultaneously, prepare pasta in salted boiling water, cooking until perfectly al dente; carefully set aside 1/2 cup starchy cooking liquid before straining.
- Create aromatic base in skillet by heating remaining olive oil over medium flame.
- Infuse oil with minced garlic and fresh sage, sautéing quickly until fragrant and releasing herbaceous notes (approximately 1-2 minutes).
- Merge roasted squash with cooked pasta directly in skillet, gently folding ingredients together.
- Introduce reserved pasta water incrementally to create silky, smooth coating, adjusting consistency as needed.
- Optional: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese for enhanced flavor and creamy texture.
- Transfer to serving dish immediately, ensuring warm presentation and maximum enjoyment.
Notes
- Ensure butternut squash cubes are similar in size for even roasting, preventing some pieces from burning while others remain undercooked.
- Transform this dish into a vegan option by substituting Parmesan with nutritional yeast or dairy-free cheese alternatives.
- Enhance protein content by adding roasted chickpeas or crispy pancetta for extra texture and flavor complexity.
- For a gluten-free version, replace traditional pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta made from chickpea or lentil flour.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 59 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 7 mg