Spicy Squash Pasta Recipes

PASTA WITH BUTTERNUT SAUCE, SPICY SAUSAGE AND BABY SPINACH

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add butternut squash and cook until soft.
• Remove squash with a slotted spoon and place in a blender, blend until smooth.
• 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.
• 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.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and melt the butter, sauté the shallots and garlic until soft and golden, about 5 - 6 minutes.
• Add pureed butternut squash, season with 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.
• Add baby spinach and stir in parmesan cheese and sage. Toss in cooked pasta and sausage and mix until well coated.
• Serve with additional parmesan cheese on the side if desired.

SPICY SQUASH WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat (French nostick baking mat). Season squash with salt and pepper, and place, cut side up, on baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Turn cut side down, and bake until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 20 to 30 minutes more. Remove squash from oven, and let stand until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Scoop out flesh, discarding skins; set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Add perciatelli, and cook until al dente, according to manufacturers' directions.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat, add garlic, a large pinch of salt, red-pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon sage, and 1/2 teaspoon rosemary. Cook until garlic is golden and fragrant about 5 minutes. Add reserved squash, and heat through.
• In a second large skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. When pasta is done, drain well, and add to pan with oil. Add parsley and remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of thyme, sage, and rosemary. Season with salt, and toss to combine.
• Place ricotta in a large dollop in the center of the serving platter. Top with squash mixture. Cover with pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.

SPICY BUTTERNUT SQUASH PASTA WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Bring a large covered pot of heavily salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet with high sides and a tight-fitting lid (or a Dutch oven), heat the oil over medium-high until shimmering. Add the squash and season with salt, cumin and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring every minute, until squash becomes browned in spots and feels just tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 400 degrees. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook, uncovered, until not quite al dente, 3 to 4 minutes less than the package instructions. (It should be a little too firm to the bite.) Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain. If the pasta is done before the squash, then stir in a drizzle of olive oil so that it doesn't stick together.
• When the squash is just tender, add the broth. Bring to an active simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is soft and easily mashable, 10 to 12 minutes. Turn off the heat, then use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to crush about half of the butternut squash and leave the rest chunky. Season the squash to taste, keeping in mind that salty Parmesan will be added soon.
• Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with 1 cup reserved pasta water and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, stirring vigorously to combine. Stir in the spinach one handful at a time until it shrinks down a little.
• Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan, the mozzarella and jalapeño, then place in the oven, on a sheet pan if you are worried about dripping. Cook until the top is melted and browned in spots, 12 to 15 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil, top with parsley and serve.