Global
Creamy Butternut Pasta
A silky 'cheesy' pasta sauce built from roasted butternut instead of cream. Comforting, bright orange and full of veg.
~60 mintotal~398 kcalper serving~14g protein~69g carbs~7g fat
Estimated. Worked out from the ingredients using the UK food composition tables, so treat it as a guide rather than a measurement. A typical recipe lands within about a quarter of the true figure. Makes about 4.
Ingredients
- 300g wholemeal pasta
- 500g butternut, cubed
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Salt & pepper
Cooking Steps
Roast the butternut, onion and garlic in olive oil at 200°C (400°F) for 30 minutes.
Blend with the stock and nutmeg until smooth.
Cook the pasta, then toss with the sauce and parmesan.
Loosen with pasta water and season.
Optional Enhancements
- Sweet potato or pumpkin
- Dairy-free: nutritional yeast
- Add spinach or peas
Plant & Growing Tips
Butternut
- Sow seeds directly after the last frost in full sun, or transplant seedlings into rich, well-drained soil.
- Provide plenty of space for vines to spread or use a sturdy trellis for vertical growth.
- Water deeply and consistently, especially during flowering and fruit development.
Onion
- Plant sets or seeds in early spring in well-drained soil with full sun.
- Space onions 4-6 inches apart to allow bulbs to develop properly.
- Keep the area weed-free and water regularly until bulbs begin to mature.
Garlic
- Plant individual cloves (pointy side up) 2-4 inches deep in well-drained soil in autumn for harvest next summer.
- Requires full sun and consistent moisture, especially during bulb development in spring.
- Avoid planting in waterlogged soil to prevent rot.
Natural Pest Control
- Hand-pick squash bugs and their egg clusters from butternut leaves daily.
- Use reflective mulch around onion plants to deter onion thrips.
- Spray garlic plants with a strong stream of water to dislodge aphids.
Harvest
Butternut
- Pick when the skin is hard and deep orange, and the stem has started to dry and shrivel; cut the stem, leaving a few inches attached for better storage.
Onion
- Harvest when the tops have mostly fallen over and turned yellow, then cure bulbs in a warm, dry, airy place for several weeks.
Garlic
- Dig when the lower leaves begin to yellow and dry, but there are still 4-5 green leaves remaining on the plant, then cure in a dry, airy spot.
Storing & Freezing
Sauce keeps 4 days and freezes 2 months.
