Butternut-Sage Pasta Al Forno
Recipe by Steven Petusevsky
Ingredients
- Butternut Squash:
- 1large butternut squash, halved and seeded
- 1/2cup water
- Tomato Sauce:
- 1tablespoon olive oil
- 1medium onion, chopped
- 2-- garlic cloves, minced
- 1-- (28-ounce) can chopped plum tomatoes with juice
- 1/2cup chopped fresh basil
- Cheese Filling:
- 3cups low-fat ricotta cheese
- 2-- eggs, beaten
- 1/4cup minced sage leaves
- 1tablespoon minced lemon peel
- 1/8teaspoon nutmeg
- 1teaspoon salt
- -- Freshly ground black pepper
- To Assemble Dish:
- 1/2pound penne or rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente, cooked according to package directions
- 1cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 375F.
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To make squash: Place butternut squash halves, cut side down, in a baking pan. Add 1/2 cup water and bake 35 to 40 minutes until tender. Cool and then scoop squash flesh from shell. Set aside.
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To make sauce: Heat olive oil in a large nonreactive saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute until soft. Add tomatoes, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add the basil; set aside.
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To make filling: Combine ricotta, eggs, sage, lemon peel, nutmeg, salt and pepper in a large bowl with a wooden spoon. Add cooked butternut squash and combine well. Filling can be chunky; it doesn't have to be mixed until smooth.
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To assemble: Ladle half the sauce onto bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Place pasta in baking dish and spread evenly. Spoon squash filling over the pasta (it doesn't have to be an even layer; it can look like little pillows, and you may leave small mounds with some pasta peeking out).
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Ladle remaining sauce over squash and top with mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 45 to 50 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes until golden brown. Allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.
Nutritional Info *per serving
- Calories 490
- Fat 14g
- Cholesterol 87mg
- Sodium 406mg
- Carbohydrate 56g
- Fiber 4g
- Protein 30g