Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
An interesting twist to traditional pasta sauce. Try this recipe while butternut squash is still in season. You won’t regret it!
Ingredients:
1 small butternut squash, (about 3 cups when cooked)
2 + 3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small butternut squash, (about 3 cups when cooked)
2 + 3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons + 1 ¾ cups water
½ red onion, chopped
½ red onion, chopped
4 cloves finely chopped garlic
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
2 stalks, celery chopped
2 tablespoons natural sugar
4 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4-1/2 cup nutritional yeast (optional)
black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
sea salt
Whole wheat pasta
Steamed kale (optional)
vegan meatballs (optional)
Directions:
1. Cut butternut squash in half, remove seeds and place on a large baking sheet face down. Cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes or until tender. Remove skins; once cooked, the skins should be easily removed.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add onions, garlic and red pepper. Cook about 8 minutes, or until onions are translucent. Add a little bit of salt and 3 tablespoons of water about halfway through.
3. Add celery and cook until celery is tender. If at any time the veggies begin to stick to the pan, add a little more water.
3. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, sugar, tomato paste, nutritional yeast, black pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes and 1 3/4 cups water; stir well.
4. Add the butternut squash, it should be soft enough so that it can be easily mashed. Use an immersion blender to puree all ingredients. If you don’t have one of these, then you can add all ingredients to a food processor or blender (more messy, but works).
5. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, adjust salt to taste.
6. Eat over whole wheat pasta. I enjoyed mine with some steamed kale and vegan meatballs. Adding the nutritional yeast to this recipe is optional. I have made it both ways and prefer it with the nutritional yeast, which gives the sauce a cheesier flavor.
Total cook and prep time: 1 hour. Serves 4.
