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Pasta with Butternut Squash, Browned Butter and Almonds

Pasta with Butternut Squash, Browned Butter and Almonds

By Dimitri DemopolousApril 25, 2023

  • Makes
    4 to 6 servings
  • Cook Time
    1 hour
  • Active time plus cooling
    25 minutes active
  • Rating

In northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy regions, Christmas means pasta with velvety pumpkin and almond-rich amaretti cookies. Inspired by this holiday classic, we developed a weeknight-simple dish featuring similarly warm, comforting flavors. To start, butternut squash is roasted partway, then blanketed in Parmesan; as the cheese hits the hot squash and pan it crisps up and browns enticingly. Fresh sage provides earthy depth, while toasty browned butter and almonds replicate the cookies’ nutty-sweet notes. Pasta shells do an excellent job of catching bits of squash and nuts for satisfying, texture-packed bites, but other small curved or ridged shapes like orecchiette or campanelle work wonderfully, too.

Ingredients
  • 2

    pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks (4 cups)

  • 3

    tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 ½

    teaspoons grated nutmeg, divided

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

  • 2

    ounces Parmesan cheese, finely grated (1 cup), divided

  • 12

    ounces medium shell pasta, orecchiette or campanelle

  • 3

    tablespoons salted butter, cut into 3 pieces

  • ¼

    cup lightly packed fresh sage, torn

  • ¾

    cup roasted almonds, chopped

  • 2

    tablespoons white wine vinegar

Step 1

Heat the oven to 450°F with a rack in the lower-middle position. On a rimmed baking sheet, combine the squash, oil and 1 teaspoon each nutmeg and salt, tossing to coat. Distribute the squash in an even layer, then roast until lightly browned, about 20 minutes, stirring once about halfway through. Remove from the oven and sprinkle evenly with ½ cup Parmesan; stir, then redistribute in an even layer. Continue roasting until the cheese is browned and a skewer inserted into the squash meets no resistance, 15 to 20 minutes, rotating the baking sheet about halfway through.

Step 2

Meanwhile, in a large pot, bring 4 quarts water to a boil. Add the pasta and 1 tablespoon salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, until just shy of al dente. Reserve 1½ cups of the cooking water, then drain and set aside.

Step 3

In the same pot over medium-high, melt the butter. Add the sage and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and the butter is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the almonds, stirring just to coat. Add the pasta, the reserved cooking water, remaining ½ cup Parmesan, the vinegar, remaining ½ teaspoon nutmeg and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and lightly sauced, 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 4

Using a wide metal spatula, scrape up the roasted squash and any crusty bits of cheese and add to the pasta mixture; stir to combine. Off heat, taste and season with salt and pepper.