Butternut Squash Pasta


Butternut Squash Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cut into 2-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons, plus ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper, divided, plus more to taste
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 6-8 sage leaves
- 1 large or 2 small shallots, minced
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1½ cups chicken stock
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼-⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Add butternut squash to the prepared pan and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Roast for 25-30 minutes until the squash is fork-tender. Remove from oven and slightly cool.
- Cook pasta according to packaging instructions. Drain and reserve ½ cup of starchy water.
- In a small skillet, heat remaining ¼ cup of oil over medium-high heat until hot. Fry sage leaves until crisp, 2–3 seconds. Transfer with a fork to paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Set aside.
- In the same skillet used to fry the sage, discard all but 2 tablespoons of oil. Over medium-high heat, sauté the shallots until fragrant and tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic, and sauté for 20-30 seconds.
- Transfer squash, chicken broth, shallots, garlic, and remaining salt and black pepper to a blender. Puree mixture until smooth. Add cream and continue to blend for 20-30 seconds. Slowly pour in reserved starchy water and nutmeg.
- Combine the butternut squash cream with the cooked pasta. Season with salt and pepper, if needed. Top with parmesan cheese and crispy fried sage if using. Enjoy!