Cheesy Baked Pasta with Butternut Squash & Greens

My kids love the Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese from Trader Joe’s. (It sells out daily- so they are clearly not alone!) This vegetarian comfort food dish seemed reminiscent enough to be a crowd-pleaser. 😉 I liked that it incorporated leafy greens too.

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Yasmin Fahr. I modified the method and proportions. I also added a poblano chile, red onion, garlic, and cilantro. Nice.

Yield: Serves 6

• Kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium or 1/2 large red onion, diced
• 1 poblano chile, seeded, ribbed, and diced, divided (or 1 jalapeño, sliced into rounds)
• 6 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 1/2 pounds), peeled, seeds removed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 6 cups)
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more to taste
• 1 pound rigatoni, penne, or other tubular pasta
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan (I used Parmigiano-Reggiano), divided
• 4 packed cups greens (I used 2 cups turnip greens (sliced into 1-inch ribbons) and 2 cups baby spinach)
• 8 oz (1/2 pound) fresh mozzarella, torn into bite-size chunks
• 1/3 cup cilantro or flat-leaf parsley and tender stems, roughly chopped, for garnish

1. Bring a large covered pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta 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 2 cups of the pasta water and drain. Set aside.
2. 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. (I used a large and wide enameled cast iron pan.)
3. Add the diced onion and half of the diced poblano chile, season with salt, and cook until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes.
4. Add the sliced garlic and continue to cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
5. Add the cubed 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.
6. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 400 degrees. (I set my oven to convection.)
7. When the squash is just tender, add 1 cup of the reserved pasta water. Bring to an active simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is soft and easily mashable, 10 to 12 minutes.
8. Turn off the heat, then use 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.
9. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with the remaining 1 cup of reserved pasta water and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan. Stir vigorously to combine.
10. Stir in the greens one handful at a time until each addition wilts slightly.
11. Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan, the mozzarella, and the remaining diced poblano chile. Place in the oven and cook until the top is melted and browned in spots, 12 to 15 minutes.
12. Top with minced cilantro and serve.

Kabocha Squash, Sausage, & Cornbread Gratin

I am in love with kabocha squash- it is just so creamy and sweet. This dish may be the ultimate autumn casserole. It was a little bit involved to prepare but the results were worth every minute.

This recipe was adapted from Bon Appetit, contributed by Claire Saffitz. I slightly modified the proportions and method. Fabulous!

4 to 6 servings

• 1 small to medium kabocha squash
• 7 large garlic cloves
• 3 6-inch-long rosemary sprigs
• ½ cup heavy cream
• Kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1 bunch Tuscan kale (I used a 10 oz bag), ribs removed and torn into 1-2″ pieces (about 8 cups)
• 2 medium shallots
• 1 pound fresh pork sausage, such as sweet Italian (about 4 links)
• 2 cups crumbled cornbread, from a 6×4 inch piece
• 2 T unsalted butter
• 1 T olive oil

1. Bake cornbread. (I used Trader Joe’s Cornbread Mix.) Set aside to cool.
2. Position a rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°, preferably on convection.
3. Cut off stem end of kabocha squash and rest on cut side. Cut squash in half. Scoop out seeds and stringy innards with a spoon; discard. Cut squash into 1″-thick slices. Using your knife, slice off the tough peel and layer of light green flesh beneath.
4. Smash the garlic cloves with the side of the knife and remove peel.
5. Combine squash, garlic, rosemary sprigs, heavy cream, and ¼ cup water in a medium saucepan. Season generously with salt and pepper and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Cover pot and reduce heat to low. Simmer until squash is tender and easily mashes when pressed with the back of a spoon, 20-25 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, grasp stem end of each kale leaf. Starting at stem, slide your other hand along length of leaf to strip leaves. Repeat with entire bunch; discard stems. Tear leaves into 1″–2″ pieces (you should have about 8 cups).
7. Peel 2 shallots and thinly slice crosswise.
8. Use the tip of your knife to prick the sausages all over in several places.
9. Crumble cornbread into coarse crumbs (you should have about 2 cups).
10. When squash is tender, remove saucepan from heat. Uncover and pluck out rosemary sprigs, leaving leaves inside pot. Transfer entire mixture to a medium bowl (reserve saucepan) and mash with the back of a spoon or a potato masher until no distinct pieces of squash remain. Season with salt and pepper.
11. Wipe out pot with paper towels and heat over medium. Add butter and heat until melted. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 4 minutes.
12. Add kale to the pot, a couple of handfuls at a time, stirring to wilt between each batch, and cook until leaves are dark green and wilted, about 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
13. Transfer to kale to the bowl with squash, then fold to incorporate.
14. Heat the olive oil in the same saucepan over medium and add sausage. Cook, turning once, until browned on both sides (they won’t be cooked through), about 6 minutes. Transfer to cutting board and let cool for a few minutes (reserve saucepan again and do not pour out fat from sausages–you’re going to use it one more time).
15. Meanwhile, using a rubber spatula, scrape squash and kale mixture into a shallow 2-qt. baking dish and smooth top. (I coated the baking dish with cooking oil spray.)
16. Cut sausages crosswise into 2″ pieces and nestle into top of squash mixture, spacing evenly.
17. Heat the drippings remaining in the saucepan over medium and add cornbread crumbs. Cook, stirring, just until crumbs are evenly coated in fat. Scatter cornbread crumbs over squash mixture; season with more salt and pepper.
18. Bake gratin until crumbs are toasty and brown and sausages are cooked through (you can insert an instant-read thermometer into center of sausage to check if registers 140°, or just cut into one with a knife), about 15 minutes.
19. Let cool 5–10 minutes before serving.

Curried Squash Galette

I made this galette for myself. I really did- which rarely (read: never) happens. As soon as I saw the recipe I had to make it. Such a seasonal and pretty vegetarian meal. The perfect use for my CSA butternut squash and red onions too. It took me a week to enjoy it and was worth every flavorful bite.

The crust was super flaky and fabulous thanks to grating frozen butter into the dry ingredients. Genius. I made the crust days in advance and kept it well wrapped in the refrigerator without any issues as well.

This recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by Justin Chapple. I used all butternut squash instead of a combination of varieties. I also adapted the crust preparation as well as the baking times for a convection oven. Lovely!

I am sharing this at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #142 this week, co-hosted by Elaine @foodbod and Michelle @O Blog Off. Enjoy!

Yield: Serves 6 to 8

For the Dough:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 stick unsalted butter, frozen
• ice water

For the Filling:

• 2 pounds butternut squash (or a combination of kabocha & butternut squash), peeled, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 large red onion, cut through the core into 1/2-inch wedges
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Madras curry powder
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup sour cream (light okay)
• 1/2 cup finely shredded aged Manchego Anejo cheese, plus more for serving

 

 

 

 

To Make the Dough:

1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour with 3/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
2. Working over the bowl, grate the frozen butter on the large holes of a box grater. Gently toss the grated butter in the flour.
3. Stir in 1/3 cup of ice water until the dough is evenly moistened.
4. Scrape out onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Gather up any crumbs and knead gently just until the dough comes together.
5. Pat into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour, or up to several days in advance.

To Make the Filling:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°, preferably on convection.
2. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the squash and the onion with the olive oil and curry powder. Season generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until the squash is tender but not falling apart. Let cool.
3. Increase the oven temperature to 450°.
4. Lightly flour the dough and place between sheets of plastic wrap. Roll out the dough to a 14-inch round.
5. Remove the top layer of plastic wrap and replace with a piece of parchment paper large enough to line a rimmed baking sheet. Invert and carefully transfer to a baking sheet.
6. Spread the sour cream over the dough, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border.
7. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the cheese on top.
8. Arrange the squash and onion over the sour cream and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese on top.
9. Fold the pastry edge up and over the vegetables to create a 1 1/2-inch border.
10. Bake the squash galette for 25 to 35 minutes, until the crust is browned; let cool slightly.
11. Sprinkle with shredded cheese, cut into wedges and serve warm.

Make Ahead: The galette can be made a few hours early and rewarmed before serving.

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Two Years Ago:

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Three Years Ago:

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Four Years Ago:

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