Description
Butternut squash pasta sauce brings Italian comfort to North American kitchens with velvety, aromatic richness. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, delivering a luxurious meal you can savor with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) frozen diced butternut squash
- 1.5 cups fresh chopped tomatoes
- 1 pound (454 grams) pasta
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1/2 yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Liquid:
- 1/3 cup pasta water (reserved)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 450F and cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Distribute butternut squash, tomatoes, and onion across the baking sheet, ensuring even spacing. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle salt, black pepper, and dried thyme, massaging ingredients to achieve uniform coating.
- Place the vegetable-laden sheet into the preheated oven, roasting for 20 minutes until edges caramelize and vegetables soften, developing rich, concentrated flavors.
- During vegetable roasting, prepare pasta in boiling water according to package guidelines. Before draining, extract 1/3 cup of starchy cooking liquid, which will help emulsify the sauce.
- Transfer roasted vegetables to a blender, incorporating reserved pasta water. Pulse and blend until achieving a silky, uniform consistency with no visible chunks.
- Gently fold the creamy sauce into cooked pasta, ensuring each strand gets thoroughly coated. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan or plant-based cheese alternative for enhanced flavor profile.
- Serve immediately while sauce remains warm and pasta retains optimal texture, presenting a comforting, vibrant dish.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by adding a sprinkle of smoked paprika or chili flakes to the roasted vegetables for a subtle kick.
- Ensure smooth blending by letting roasted vegetables cool slightly before processing to prevent steam buildup in the blender.
- Create a dairy-free version by using nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese, which adds a nutty, cheesy flavor for plant-based diets.
- Boost protein content by stirring in white beans or cooked chickpeas directly into the sauce for a more nutritious meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 457 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 88 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg