Give your creamy bowl of pasta a spooky Halloween twist with the addition of pumpkin! The creamy pumpkin puree adds another layer of decadence to the existing richness of this dish. Pumpkins also have a myriad of health benefits including being loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Get ready for an exciting twist on classic creamy cheese pasta! Indulge in a scrumptious mix of nutritious ingredients and delicious flavors. With whole grain pasta, a small amount of cheese, you won’t even miss the guilt. Get ready to satisfy your cravings and treat your body right!
Boil the Pasta
Start by bringing a pot of water to boil with a generous pinch of salt. Once boiling, add in the pasta. Cook for about 3 minutes or until the pasta is cooked slightly less than al dente. You want it a little undercooked because the pasta will get more cooking time once added to the sauce. Drain the pasta, making sure to reserve the pasta water. Set the cooked pasta aside and move on to the sauce. When choosing your pasta, select something hollow such as penne, macaroni, or shells. Hollow pastas tend to work best by giving you a good amount of sauce in each bite.
The Sauce
There area a few things that need to be done in order to get this sauce ready. First, peel and slice the pumpkin. The thinner and smaller the pieces, the faster they will cook. Place the pumpkin pieces in a pot of boiling water and allow to boil for 5 minutes or until fork tender. Drain the water and blend the boiled pieces until smooth. While the pumpkin cooks, finely dice the bacon and garlic, and grate the cheese.
Cook the bacon until crispy and add in the garlic. Allow this mixture to cook until it becomes golden brown. Next, add in the tomato paste, cream, and pumpkin puree. Mix well.
Finally, mix in the grated cheese and mix. Season with salt and pepper and mix in the cooked pasta and your dish is done!
Serve into bowls or pasta plates and (optionally) garnish with a basil leaf and a sprinkle of paprika.
Pumpkin Cream Pasta
Ingredients
- 160 Grams Penne Pasta
- 200 Grams Pumpkin
- 30 Grams Heavy Cream
- 20 Grams Tomato Puree
- 50 Grams Cheese Grated
- To Taste Salt and Pepper About a pinch of each
- 4 Cloves Garlic Finely chopped
- 50 Grams Bacon Finely chopped
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in salted water and drain. Save the pasta water.
- Slice the pumpkin thinly and boil. Once tender, blend until smooth.
- Sauté the bacon until golden and crispy. Add in the chopped garlic and sauté.
- To this mixture, add in the tomato paste and cream. Follow this with the pumpkin puree and mix well.
- Add in the cheese and mix well before adding the pasta with a splash of pasta water. Season well and serve!
Notes
| Serve immediately with a garnish of a basil leaf and dash of paprika. Best eaten warm. |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What if you take the pasta off the heat too soon?
If your pasta seems underdone after boiling, simply allow it to simmer in the pumpkin sauce for a little longer until it reaches an al dente texture.
- What if fresh pumpkin is hard to come by?
Canned pumpkin puree would work just as well as fresh pumpkin. Often, canned goods contain seasonings already mixed in. So make sure to taste the canned puree before using so that you know how much, or how little, to season the sauce.
- What kind of cheese is best?
Cheese that tends to melt well like mozzarella or cheddar will work best for this dish. Parmesan cheese works well and would be an excellent garnish as well.
Tips to Improve or Alter the Recipe
- Reserve the pumpkin seeds and toast them off to use as a garnish.
- Incorporate seasonings such as pumpkin spice, nutmeg, or paprika to give your dish a more seasonal flavor.
- Omit the bacon and you have yourself a vegetarian meal!
- You can even make your dish protein heavy by adding in things like smoked sausage or chicken.
- For a texture boost, sprinkle a mixture of parmesan and breadcrumbs atop the pasta and broil it (make sure the dish you use is oven safe)
Things to Serve With
This dish is meant to be consumed on its own. Although, a side of garlic bread never hurts.
Tips for Storage
The sauce can be made (without the addition of the cream and cheese) in advance and frozen for up to a month, or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Simply heat the sauce in a pot with a splash of water and carry on with the recipe. Once the pasta is mixed in, however, it must be served and eaten immediately for the best results.
Final Words
Food doesn’t always need to be riddled with fat and sugar. Healthy eating is about finding a balance between nutritious food and treats. You can still enjoy creamy cheese pasta, but try to make healthier choices with ingredients and portion sizes. Consider using whole grain pasta, reducing the amount of cheese, or adding in vegetables. Additionally, incorporating a side salad or vegetable dish can help round out the meal with more nutrients.
As always thanks for reading and be sure to keep your kitchen Hot and Salty!
