This pasta with roasted butternut squash uses an amazing combination of flavors that will switch up your boring pasta routine. Bonus that it's so easy!
This post was sponsored by NOW Foods but the content and opinions expressed are fully my own.
This post was originally published on 11/12/2015
This easy fall themed pasta dish has a unique mix of flavors. I love the combination of the flavors and the added greens make this a great all in one meal!
Vegan Butternut Squash Pasta
Throwing together pasta dinners is a common occurrence in our house, so I'm always coming up with different combos to keep things exciting. While we love my creamy butternut squash pasta, I wanted something without the creamy factor this time. This recipe includes the use of sesame oil, just a touch because a little goes a really long way with flavor.
Sesame oil is usually part of Asian cooking, but in this non Asian recipe, I loved the combo of it with the sweetness of the butternut squash. Throw in the buttery pine nuts and sweet touch of the currants and it's a fabulous combo!
Can I prep this recipe ahead of time?
Yes! It's a great recipe to prep ahead. Here is how I make my nights easier by having all the parts ready:
- I make the veggie mix by roasting, cooling it off completely and storing in an airtight container.
- When I am ready to make this recipe, I reheat the veggie mix either in the microwave or putting it back in the oven for a short time.
- I cook the pasta, then throw in the spinach like the directions say.
- Then mix all together and top with my awesome vegan Parmesan!
How do I roast butternut squash?
The key with roasting veggies, especially winter squash, is making sure the pieces are similar in size. Butternut is a tougher squash so I have a certain way to do it so it's a bit easier.
- Using a vegetable peeler, peel the tough outer skin until you get to the orange part.
- Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with an ice cream scooper.
- Lay cut side down and cut it in uniform slices.
- Chop each slice into small cubes. The smaller they are, the faster they will cook.
- Bake at 400 F/ 200 C until soft in the middle and crispy on the edge. It will caramelize a bit if you let it get a little crisp.
What is the best pasta to use?
When it comes to pasta, we like to stick to mostly gluten free at home since we can't handle too much gluten. But with gluten free pasta, it varies SO much on what is good and what isn't.
One of my top picks, is the Living Now Quinoa Penne. This pasta has great texture, much like your normal run of mill pasta. It's made with rice, quinoa and amaranth. I love that they use amaranth in it! My kids devour it, which is the final topper for me.
Another bonus is that it is free of the 8 major common allergens, making it awesome for anyone out there with multiple allergies!
How to Make Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash
This butternut squash and spinach pasta is super easy to make. The oven does most of the work so you can move on to more important tasks, homework, laundry, you get the drill!
- Roast the butternut squash.
- Make the pasta.
- Mix all together.
- Serve!
What else can I serve this with?
Can I sub in other veggies or nuts?
Yes! Any veggies you have in your fridge would work great, here are some suggestions:
- cauliflower
- kale
- zucchini
- acorn squash
- pumpkin
- sweet potatoes
- brussels sprouts
If you don't want to use pine nuts, here are some other nuts that would work well:
- walnuts
- pistachios
- pecans
Here are some other pasta recipes you may love!
- Vegan Butternut Squash Lasagna Roll Ups
- Vegan pasta puttanesca
- Roasted veggies and pasta
- Green mac and cheese
Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped butternut squash , about 1 small squash
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup pine nuts , use less for lower fat version
- 1 cup currants
- 6 cloves garlic , chopped
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 16 ounces of your favorite pasta (I use NOW Foods brand)
- Grateable Vegan Parmesan , optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C
- Combine butternut squash, garlic, sesame oil, thyme and salt in a large bowl. Mix well.
- Roast for 30 minutes. Add pine nuts and currants and sift around to incorporate in. Roast another 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions. Put fresh spinach at the bottom of a pasta strainer. When pasta is ready pour hot water and pasta over the spinach to slightly “cook” it.
- Pour cooked pasta and spinach into a large bowl and add roasted squash mix. Combine well and serve topped with vegan Parmesan.
Notes
- To get the diverse flavor in this recipe sesame oil is a must, however if you don’t use oil, feel free to roast with veggie broth and add some sesame seeds for some flavor. However the overall taste will be altered.
- Wash and chop all veggies and herbs.
- Puree roasted butternut squash, add garlic, thyme and spinach if desired. For older baby, cook pasta until slightly overdone and soft. Chop in a food processor with butternut squash, spinach, garlic and thyme.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Andrea D Wiener
and if you're wheat and gluten-free and allergen-free like I am, Tinkyada or Trader Joe brand brown rice pastas would work for you as well.
veggiesdontbite
Those ones are good too!
Sina @ Vegan Heaven
This looks so delicious, Sophia! 🙂 What a great combo! I love quinoa pasta, I just wish it wouldn't be this expensive.
veggiesdontbite
Thanks so much Sina! Yeah, it always seems that the healthy stuff costs more. What's funny though is that when we started eating pasta full of healthy grains like quinoa, we found we didn't need as much to feel satisfied. We'd easily eat way more regular white pasta. So in the end it really wasn't that much more money overall.
Audrey @ Unconventional Baker
LOVE this, Sophia. Butternut squash in everything over here this time of year. And I love your pastaholic self 🙂 -- keep 'em coming!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Audrey!! Pasta is everything over here. Lol!
Gin
I'll have to look for the Living Now brand, I'd love to try a quinoa pasta. The sesame oil will really bring this dish together, it sounds delish!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks so much! The sesame oil is so good with these flavors! I'm not sure what stores have this brand but you can get it online. Their site has loads of other things like flours and nuts, etc. I buy a large batch of cooking supplies!
Levan @ Crazy Vegan Kitchen
I surprisingly haven't had pasta in AGES! Time to begin AGAIN!!!
veggiesdontbite
Oh we don't go more than a few days without it at our house! LOL The baby just started eating it if cooked really soft too and devours it!
Vanessa @VeganFamilyRecipes.com
Isn't quinoa pasta the best? Love the look of this pasta. Looks so fresh and perfect for this time of year 🙂 Pinning!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Vanessa! I'm so picky with my pastas and this brand is spot on in texture. This is a great fall recipe for sure!
jill conyers
This looks like a dish I would love. I need to try quinoa pasta. Right now the only gf pasta I eat is bean pasts.
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Jill! It's a great pairing of flavors. I really love this quinoa based pasta, probably because it has a perfect combination of grains. The texture is awesome! You can get this brand online.
Ana @ Ana's Rocket Ship
This looks super super super amazing. I can't wait till I get back home to my sesame oil so I can make this!!!!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks so much Ana! It's such an easy and flavorful recipe. Let me know what you think once you make it! Are you on vacation?? Hope it's somewhere fun!
Mandy
Hi, I'm Mandy and i'm also a pastaholic! Wowza!!! This sounds amazing and i'm loving the use of sesame oil...along with the other delicious ingredients. Congrats on working with such a great company!!! That's awesome, Sophia! Hey, I also wanted to say that your blog is looking beautiful! I love the layout and logo!
veggiesdontbite
Awe, you are too kind!!! Thank you! I've been working hard on it. I know you'll love this recipe. The sesame oil complements these all so well! Such a unique taste!
Sabrina Modelle
Sophia, this looks like an awesome bowl of comfort food. I totally love the flavor combo. I've not had butternut squash with sesame oil, but it sounds terrific. I'll look for this brand of pasta next time I'm shopping!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you so much! The sesame oil was such a random pair I thought of but it ended up being fantastic! You'll love it! Not sure if this pasta brand is in stores yet but I get it on their website online. Let me know if you try this!