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butternut squash pasta

Pasta in a decadent creamy, homemade, butternut squash pasta sauce, with no cream! The spicy chicken sausage and sage is the perfect compliment.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 5
Cuisine: Chinese
Calories: 120

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 11 oz spicy chicken Italian sausage about 4 links
  • 1 lb butternut squash peeled and diced
  • 1 tablespoon whipped butter
  • 10 oz pasta wheat or gluten-free
  • 0.25 cup shallots minced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups baby spinach roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh shaved parmesan cheese
  • 4 leaves sage sliced thin
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method
 

Preparation Steps
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add butternut squash and cook until soft.
  2. Remove squash with a slotted spoon and place in a blender, blend until smooth.
  3. Add pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions for al dente, reserving at least 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
  4. Meanwhile, in a large deep non-stick skillet, sauté sausage over medium heat until browned, breaking up with a spoon as it cooks. When cooked through, set aside on a plate.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low and melt the butter, sauté the shallots and garlic until soft and golden, about 5 - 6 minutes.
  6. Add pureed butternut squash, season with salt and fresh cracked pepper and add a little of the reserved pasta water (I used about 1 cup) to thin out the sauce to your liking.
  7. Add baby spinach and stir in parmesan cheese and sage. Toss in cooked pasta and sausage and mix until well coated.
  8. Serve with additional parmesan cheese on the side if desired.

Notes

This pasta dish is filling and comforting on a chilly night, making it a perfect meal for fall.