Description
A comforting and creamy pasta bake featuring pumpkin and tomato sauce, perfect for a cozy dinner. This recipe is easy to make and packed with flavor, making it ideal for weeknights or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Dry Pasta
- 3 cups Vegetable Broth
- 1 can (15 oz) Pumpkin Puree
- 1/4 cup Tomato Paste
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
- 8 oz Cremini Mushrooms
- 1 Yellow Onion, finely chopped
- 3 to 4 handfuls Fresh Baby Spinach
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1/2 cup Finely Chopped Walnuts
- 1 Tbsp Fresh Sage
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 1/2 cups Grated Fontina Cheese
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for about 8 minutes until just under al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a sauté pan over medium heat, melt butter. Add walnuts and 1 tablespoon sage; cook for 5 minutes until aromatic and golden. Set aside.
- Using the same pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add mushrooms and onion; cook until softened, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 3-4 minutes until tomato paste caramelizes.
- Add spinach and stir until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in dried oregano, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Pour in vegetable broth and add pumpkin puree. Stir to blend into a creamy sauce.
- Mix in Parmesan and ½ cup Fontina cheese until smooth.
- Fold the drained pasta into the pumpkin sauce, ensuring all pasta is coated.
- Transfer pasta mixture to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining Fontina cheese, then the walnut-sage mixture.
- Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.
Notes
- Cook pasta just under al dente as it will finish cooking in the oven.
- Feel free to substitute spinach with kale or add other seasonal vegetables.
- Toast walnuts and use fresh herbs for the topping for enhanced flavor.
- Let the bake cool completely before storing leftovers.
- Cover with foil when reheating to keep it moist.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg