Description
This creamy pumpkin pasta is a comforting and flavorful fall-inspired dish, featuring a rich pumpkin sauce made with garlic, shallots, warm spices, and Parmesan cheese, tossed with your choice of fettuccine or penne pasta. Perfectly seasoned and garnished with fresh herbs, it’s a delicious vegetarian main course that’s quick and easy to prepare on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta (such as fettuccine or penne)
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 1 cup pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Garnish
- Chopped fresh sage or parsley
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped shallot and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Prepare the sauce: Stir in the pumpkin purée, heavy cream, and vegetable broth. Add ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, and red pepper flakes if using. Reduce the heat slightly and let the sauce simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until it is heated through and slightly thickened.
- Add cheese and season: Stir the grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce until melted and combined. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, adjusting seasoning as needed.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce and toss well to coat. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add some of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Serve and garnish: Serve the creamy pumpkin pasta warm, garnished with chopped fresh sage or parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or full-fat coconut milk for a lighter or dairy-free alternative.
- Add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or crispy pancetta for extra flavor and texture.
- Use fresh herbs like sage or parsley to brighten the dish and add a fresh aroma.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and help the sauce adhere to the pasta.
