Pasta with Pumpkin

Pasta with pumpkin is a delicious dish that marries the flavors of autumn with the simplicity of Italian cuisine. Here is a basic recipe you can follow.

Ingredients

• 320 g of pasta (pappardelle, tagliatelle, or a short pasta such as penne or rigatoni)
• 400 g of cleaned pumpkin
• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• (Optional) Chopped parsley or fresh rosemary
• (Optional) Chili pepper
• (Optional) Pancetta or sausage, if you want to add a smoky flavor note

Preparation

1. Cut the pumpkin into small cubes to allow for a more uniform and quick cooking.
2. Finely chop the onion and garlic.
3. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil and fry the onion and garlic mixture until it becomes transparent.
4. Add the pumpkin cubes to the pan and let them cook slowly, adding a little water if necessary to prevent sticking. You can also cover with a lid to speed up the cooking.
5. Meanwhile, in a pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente.
6. When the pumpkin is soft, mash some of the cubes with a fork to create a cream that will flavor the pasta. If you have chosen to use fresh herbs, add them now.
7. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the pan with the pumpkin and stir well to combine.
8. If the mixture seems too dry, add a little cooking water to achieve a creamy consistency.
9. Serve hot, garnished with grated Parmesan and, if you like, with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or rosemary.

Optionally, if you want to give a richer and tastier touch, you could fry some pancetta or sausage with the onion before adding the pumpkin.

Curiosity

This recipe reflects the perfect marriage between earth’s produce and pasta, a classic of Italian cuisine. Pumpkin is particularly appreciated for its sweet flavor and soft texture after cooking, which makes it ideal for creating creamy and enveloping sauces for pasta.