Why we love this pumpkin pasta
What better way to further you pumpkin addiction that a savory pasta dish. If you’ve never tried pumpkin in a savory way, this is definitely the way to do it. It pairs really well with the fennel flavors in the Italian sausage, and it makes a great sauce because it creates a creamy, flavorful sauce.
This pumpkin pasta is actually a new spin on a super old recipe Melissa published a few years back. That one used butternut squash that had been roasted and pureed rather than pumpkin, but times have changed and I just don’t have the time to prep meals like I used to.
Personally, I think a can of pumpkin works even better anyway. By making this one simple swap, I’ve managed to take a recipe that should take almost an hour and cut the time in half.
– Melissa + Theresa
→ More fall pasta recipes: roasted sweet potato pasta / spicy miso pasta / jerk shrimp pasta / caramelized shallot pasta
How to make pumpkin pasta with Italian sausage
To make the sauce, you’ll need to use a decent amount of pasta water. That means you need to take some out before draining the cooked pasta. I do this by sinking a liquid measuring cup into the pot – and hoping I don’t get any pasta.
A mug would work really well, too, but you can also ladle some into a bowl or measuring cup. Always, always reserve more water than you need, maybe even double if you can. It’s better to have extra than not enough. I added about 1 1/4 cup of pasta water to my sauce for the pumpkin rigatoni.
Frequently asked questions
Can you substitute an onion for shallots?
I used a shallot in this recipe because they have a really unique flavor that you can’t replicate. You can easily swap an onion. I would suggest using a sweet onion because it’s going to be the closest match to the shallots. If you haven’t tried using shallots before, definitely give it a try though if you can.
What is the taste of pumpkin?
A pumpkin is a squash and as such it will taste similar to other fall/winter squashes or some even would say it tastes similar to a sweet potato.
Pumpkin Pasta with Italian Sausage
Save this recipe!
Get this recipe sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Ingredients
- 1 16- ounce package rigatoni
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 shallot (diced)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 8- ounce bag fresh spinach
- 1 15- ounce can pumpkin puree
- 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/2 – 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions for al dente – reserving 1 1/2 cups of pasta water for sauce before draining.
- In a large skillet, brown Italian sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it into pieces as it cooks, about 8 minutes. Transfer cooked sausage to a plate and set aside.
- Add olive oil to pan and sauté shallot, garlic and crushed red pepper, stirring frequently, until softened and slightly golden, about 3 minutes.
- Add spinach to pan and wilt, stirring occasionally. If needed, reduce heat to low until pasta is ready.
- Return heat to medium-high. Add pumpkin puree, sage and salt & pepper. Slowly stir in pasta water, about 1/2 cup at a time, until sauce has reached desired consistency. Return sausage to pan and toss with pasta, adding extra pasta water if needed.
Nutrition
One Comment