Description
This creamy and flavorful Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce is a comforting, nutrient-rich sauce perfect for fall. Made with tender butternut squash, aromatic garlic and onion, and enriched with coconut milk or cream, it offers a velvety texture that pairs beautifully with your favorite pasta. Easy to prepare on the stovetop, this vegetarian sauce can be adapted for vegan diets and is ideal for adding warmth and sweetness to any pasta dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk or heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast or grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
To Serve
- Pasta of choice (cooked)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil: Place a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil, warming it until it glistens.
- Sauté onions: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they soften and become translucent.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Cook butternut squash: Add the peeled and cubed butternut squash to the skillet and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the pieces to get lightly coated and starting to soften.
- Add broth and simmer: Pour in the vegetable broth, increase heat slightly to bring to a simmer, then cover the skillet. Let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the squash is tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- Blend the sauce: Remove the skillet from heat and allow the contents to cool slightly. Transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until completely smooth and creamy.
- Combine and season: Return the blended sauce to the pan over low heat. Stir in the coconut milk or heavy cream, ground nutmeg, ground sage, salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese if using. Let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently to combine and heat through.
- Adjust seasoning and serve: Taste the sauce and adjust salt or spices if needed. Serve the warm sauce over your favorite cooked pasta, such as rigatoni, penne, or fettuccine.
Notes
- Roasting the butternut squash before blending adds a deeper, caramelized flavor to the sauce.
- Use heavy cream for a richer, more traditional dairy sauce or opt for coconut milk to keep it dairy-free and vegan.
- This sauce pairs beautifully with tubular or flat pasta shapes like rigatoni, penne, or fettuccine for better sauce adherence.
- Enhance the meal by adding sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or cooked ground sausage to the sauce for extra texture and protein.
