Pasta with Butternut Squash - Pasta con Zucca alla Napolitana

 

Yes, this is definitely as creamy and luscious as it looks!

It’s a one pot, dairy / egg free and vegan dish using Butternut Squash.

This Neapolitan recipe is usually made with Zucca Lunga Di Napoli and is referred as “Cucina Povera” or peasant food, but this meal will satisfy even those with a discerning palate. 

For those of us who don’t have Zucca Lunga Di Napoli in our gardens, it can easily be substituted for Butternut Squash which is what I’ve grown in my garden. The results were magnificent.

The cooking process does require tending to. Like risotto, liquid needs to be added to the pasta and squash as it cooks. Not something you can just forget about.

You will need: for 4 people

200 grams any short pasta. I used small penne

400 grams of cubed Butternut Squash

1 large garlic clove, minced

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

2 Tbsps Fresh Parsley and more for garnish

1/2 tsp of Peperoncini flakes or hot chili peppers, or more if you like

1/2 cup of water

Two cups or more of Vegetable Broth, you can also Chicken broth if you prefer , I used “reduced salt” broth.

Salt and Pepper to taste

- Drizzle 3 tbsps of olive oil into a large pan and over medium heat, saute your garlic, onion and pepper flakes until translucent. A minute or so.

- Add squash and parsley. Sauté for 5 minutes or so then add half a cup of water and a pinch of salt and pepper. Let simmer, with lid on, for about 20 minutes, or until squash is fork tender. Stir every so often.

- Add 1cup of vegetable or chicken broth. Bring to a boil then add your pasta to the pan. Lower heat to a simmer, and stir often with a wooden spoon.

- The squash will begin to break down as you stir and will coat pasta.

- Once your pasta has absorbed the liquid, add another half a cup of liquid and keep stirring.

- Keep adding half a cup of liquid until pasta is cooked al dente.

- The pasta will continue to absorb the liquid even after you take it off the heat, so best eaten immediately so it doesn’t dry out.

- If it does dry out, add more liquid! Very easy to fix.

- This whole process should take a little over half an hour but it’s well worth the effort.

Creamy without the dairy!! Garnish with parsley and fresh hot chili pepper if you like and top with Parm, Romano or vegan cheese.