Pesto pasta with roasted butternut squash
This recipe can easily be adapted to include any vegetables you have on hand.
Sometimes the best meals are the ones you put together with the ingredients you have on hand. If you find yourself with a surplus of basil and parmesan in your refrigerator, make pesto.
This recipe includes pistachios for a subtle riff on the classic. While it pairs well with winter squash, this pesto pasta would also be delightful with any summertime veggies — especially raw, thinly sliced summer squash or hearty chunks of heirloom tomato.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 smallish butternut squash
- 2 cups tightly packed basil leaves (about one large bunch)
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 2 tablespoons pistachios
- 1 ounce parmesan cheese, plus extra for grating
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 10 ounces whole grain pasta of choice
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Set a pot of water to boil on the stove.
- Trim and peel the squash. Cut it roughly into 1/2-inch chunks.
- Toss with a drizzle of olive oil, small pinch of salt, and a couple grinds of pepper and place in oven.
- Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tender and starting to brown.
- Meanwhile, place basil, pine nuts, pistachios, parmesan cheese, and olive oil in a blender and puree until smooth. Add ice water if needed to get the puree going. Taste and season with additional salt if needed.
- Cook the pasta in the boiling water, then drain and toss with the pesto and roasted squash. If needed use a splash of pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce.
- Top with a few extra gratings of parmesan and serve.
Nutrition information (per serving)
- Calories: 530
- Total fat: 26 g
- Saturated fat: 4.5 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg
- Sodium: 270 mg
- Total carbohydrate: 67 g
- Dietary fiber: 12 g
- Total sugars: 5 g
- Protein: 16 g