I realize I don’t share recipes as often as I used to on here, but I made the decision a while ago to only share those oh.my.goodness dishes when I came across them. Well, I came across one. We had this for the first time the other night and I admit, the kids need some warming up to it, but kids can be crazy. I on the other hand, can’t wait to make it again! It’s such a perfect fall meal. The butternut squash mixed with the sausage and topped with shaved parmesan makes for quite the flavorful combo. And the pureed butternut squash creates the most creamy sauce without the use of any cream. You can add any pasta you choose, but Trader Joe’s currently has this Fall Zuccehette pasta stocked which made it all the more festive. Give it a shot. And then let me know how much you loved it!
Pasta with Butternut Squash Sauce, Spicy Sausage and Baby Spinach via Skinny Taste
INGREDIENTS:
11 oz (4 links) spicy chicken Italian sausage
1 lb butternut squash, peeled and diced
1 tbsp whipped butter
10 oz pasta, wheat or gluten-free
1/4 cup shallots, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
2 tbsp fresh shaved parmesan cheese
4 sage leaves, sliced thin
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
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.
