Italian Sausage And Winter Squash Pasta Recipes

SAUSAGE AND SQUASH PENNE

Steps:

• Cook pasta and squash according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add sausage and onion; cook and stir until sausage is browned and onion is tender; keep warm., In a small bowl, mix the cooked squash, cheese, salt, parsley and pepper until blended. Drain pasta; transfer to a serving plate. Spoon squash mixture over pasta; top with sausage mixture. If desired, sprinkle with additional cheese and parsley.

PASTA WITH SAUSAGE, SQUASH AND SAGE BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, cook the sausage: In a sauté pan or skillet large enough to hold all the pasta, add the sausage and enough cold water to cover. Set over medium-high heat, then remove from the heat when the water hits a boil, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer the sausage to a cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch coins. Dry out the pan and return it to the stove.
• In the same pan, heat the olive oil over high until nearly smoking. Add the sausage and cook, flipping once, until dark brown on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate, then reduce the heat to medium. Add the squash and a pinch of salt to the pan. Let cook, stirring briefly and scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
• While the squash is browning, add pasta to boiling water, and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta.
• When the squash is nicely browned, add the butter and sage and cook until the butter is golden, nutty smelling and foaming, just a minute or two, then immediately remove the pan from the heat and add back the sausage.
• Add the pasta to the pan and mix with the brown-butter sauce (if the pasta has cooled off quite a bit, return the pan to low heat while you combine everything). Stir in the cheese, then add pasta water as needed to smooth the sauce. Adjust with salt and pepper, and serve with extra Parmesan, if you like.

ORICHETTE PASTA WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH, SAGE & ITALIAN SAUSAG

Steps:

• Boil water (salted) for pasta.
• Heat large skillet over med-high heat. Add olive oil; swirl to coat pan.
• Add squash and cook 5-6 minutes until browned and caramelized, tossing until all sides are browned. Transfer to bowl. *This can be done ahead of time.
• Add sausage to pan and cook until well browned. Drain. Return sausage to pan.
• Stir in garlic and crushed red pepper, if using, and cook 1 minute.
• Add white wine and simmer, uncovered, 1-2 minutes stirring constantly and scraping pan to loosen any brown bits. *This can be done ahead of time.
• As a time saver: At this point you can set the squash and sausage aside.
• Return squash to pan; add chicken broth and sage. Bring to boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until squash is very tender, about 10-12 minutes.
• Add pasta to the boiling water for pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions. When al dente, drain well.
• Add pasta to squash & sausage mixture, then cook and stir for 2 minutes.
• Add paremesan, pepper , season to taste with salt. Serve.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND WINTER SQUASH PASTA

Steps:

• If you have fresh squash, cut it it half and place cut side down in a microwave safe container. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 14 minutes or until soft. Remove seeds and stringy part and then separate squash from shell. Puree the squash.
• Meanwhile, boil pasta according to package directions, then strain.
• Brown sausage in skillet with onion, garlic and olive oil. You may leave out olive oil if sausage has it's own juices.
• Add rest of ingredients, stir, and simmer for 5 minutes, then serve over pasta. Add parmesan on top, if you're feeling decadent.