I created this recipe as part of a sponsored post for Dreamfields. As usual, all opinions are my own.
October is national pasta month! Dreamfields Pasta is celebrating by teaming up with bloggers to come up with a new pasta recipe every day. It’s no secret that I. Love. Pasta. With a family that loves pasta as much as mine does I’m always trying to come up with exciting new combinations. Dreamfields asked me to come up with a simple and healthy vegetarian entree using their elbows, and I think this dish hits the mark!
This recipe for pan fried butternut squash pasta is so simple. It only requires 5 ingredients (plus salt, pepper, and Parmesan if you desire) and about 30 minutes to get it done. That makes it a healthy weeknight option that might even get your kids excited about squash.
The trick to this recipe is allowing the squash to cook until soft, then getting it nice and crispy for added texture. Adding a little cheese gives it extra richness and flavor, but will also help it crisp up before adding it to the pasta. In my opinion, this is the perfect fall recipe because it has great harvest flavors and is super warm and comforting without being heavy and full of calories.
As a family of mostly vegetarians we’re always looking to get more protein into our diets, especially on the beloved pasta night. I love that a one-cup cooked serving of Dreamfields pasta provides 5 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein! That’s definitely going to help fill everyone up, which really just means there will be more pasta for me. Probably my favorite thing though is that it totally tastes like the pastas you’re used to – none of that strange taste or texture that a lot of healthier pastas have.
There’s still plenty of time to jump on the pasta wagon. Dreamfields will be sharing a new recipe every day, so be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. They’ve already shared Casual Entertaining and are halfway through Vegetarian Entrees, but we still have Table for Two coming up as well as Stovetop Saviors/ Quick and Easy Recipes!
If you haven’t tried Dreamfields, here is your chance! Dreamfields is offering one family pack (one box of each of the 7 cuts of pasta) plus a $25 gift card to one randomly-selected winner! That’s a lot of good eatin’. Leave a comment letting me know which cut of Dreamfields pasta you’re most excited to try, then use the Rafflecopter widget to complete your entry and find more chances to win. You can also visit www.DreamfieldsFoods.com to learn more about the brand and get some fantastic pasta recipes (including the others from #IHeartDreamfields month)!
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Pan Fried Butternut Squash Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 13.25 box Dreamfields elbows
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and shredded (about 3 cups)
- Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend or Mozzarella
- 6-8 fresh sage leaves
- Parmesan cheese and additional olive oil for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it.
- Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the squash and 1/2 cup of water. Season with salt and pepper. Allow the squash to cook until it starts to disintegrate, 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding more water 1/4 cup at a time if it starts to dry out. Don’t add too much water toward the end, you don’t want the squash to get soupy.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook just to al dente, so it is cooked but still a little firm. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain. While the pasta is cooking, increase the heat on the squash to medium high and add the Italian cheese blend. Thoroughly combine, then let the mixture fry in the pan for about 5 minutes, stirring two or three times, so that it begins to caramelize and get crunchy in spots. Remove from the heat and combine the squash with the pasta. If it seems too dry add a little pasta water and mix thoroughly.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the sage leaves and fry until crisp (it should happen fairly quickly). Transfer the sage to paper towels to drain.
- Serve pasta garnished with whole or crumbled sage leaves, a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, and an extra drizzle of olive oil if desired.
Notes
Nutrition information (1/6 of recipe): 320 calories; 11 g protein; 54 g total carbohydrates; 8 g total fat; 2 g saturated fat; 5 mg cholesterol; 100 mg sodium; 7 g total dietary fiber.
Nutrition
Lauren says
elbows
Sarah Hall says
I would like to try the Rotini in a good pasta salad.
Carolsue says
I want to try the Penne Rigate
amanda whitley says
i am excited to try the elbows since i cook with them the most.
Erin Hussman says
Good old Elbows would be my pick.
My toddler loves them.
Jan Hammersmith says
I like the elbow macaroni
Melina R says
I would like to try the penne pasta first.
Cori Westphal says
I think I’d probably use the Spaghetti the most!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Annette says
I’m most excited to try Dreamfields elbows.
Melissa L. says
I am most excited to try the rotini. Thanks for the chance!