I’m sitting here in Portland, Oregon writing you this post about creamy pumpkin pasta and having a really hard time concentrating. For one thing, it’s gorgeous outside. I mean seriously lush, colorful, fresh, and beautiful. I so need to move back to the Pacific Northwest. Like, pronto! Then there’s the news that I’ve signed on to work with Fisher Nuts this year and I couldn’t be happier about it. This berry salad with lemon dressing was the beginning of my love for almonds (not to mention it’s our favorite salad recipe) and this pasta was the beginning for pecans so it’s such a great fit for me. And lastly, since I’ve already mentioned it and it’s almost dinner right now, this pasta is making me hungry!
When I found out the Alex Guarnaschelli is working with Fisher Nuts and is going to be judging the Fresh Twist Recipe Contest (see details at bottom of post) I was so excited to be a part of this awesome brand. Alex Guarnaschelli is so talented and I know some have said she’s intimidating etc, but I first made her big kid mac and cheese years ago and it’s still one of our favorites. And I actually think she would really enjoy this pasta. I tried to make something Alex worthy and I think this hits the spot.
I know that we use pumpkin in a TON of dessert recipes during the fall and winter, but I just want to remind you, it is a squash and it’s wonderful in savory dishes. Just try Cassie’s pumpkin grilled cheese, it’s delicious! The sauce comes together really easy too which is fantastic for busy school nights. Between sports, music, dance, and other activities happening during the fall and the chilly air I need something totally awesome but still ridiculously easy to whip up. Start out with toasting pine nuts and then sauteing a little garlic and onion in some melted butter.
Dump in the pumpkin puree and heat through. Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth and then quickly back into the saucepan. Start to bring the heat back up and add the heavy creamy, chicken broth to lighten things up, and parmesan cheese because cheese makes the world go round. Now just whisk it all together until smooth.
Good mercy. Just look at that. Come on Alex Guarnaschelli!!! Wouldn’t you eat that? And yes, I got a bit sucked into the pasta, but we are busy cooking up the nuts for the topping too. And it’s fantastically unexpected.
While the pasta sauce is finishing off you’ll get started on the nuts. Chop the pecans and then toast them in a skillet. Once the pecans are warm to the touch add a little butter, melt it down and quickly add the brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir a few times and then dump out onto a parchment paper to cool. Sprinkle the nuts on the finished pasta.
As we all know, salty and sweet are major flavor combos these days. It’s still such a thing because it just works so well, but there are a few dishes that I don’t see this pop into enough and that’s soup and pasta. Sandwiches seem to pop up like Oprah’s Favorite Grilled Cheese with that drizzle of honey, cookies have it like these salted brown butter chocolate chip cookies stuffed with dulce de leche and nutella,golden and breakfast totally has it with these apple bacon waffles, but pasta and soup get forgotten. Well I don’t forget them. Our golden loaded potato soup has a drizzle of honey that heightens the flavor to new levels and now this pasta that tastes like the definition of fall with little pops of brown sugar and salty cheese. It’s amazing and I can’t wait for you to try each of these recipes so I urge you to pin each one and let me know your favorite.
And because Fisher told me about this contest and I actually think it’s awesome and would be thrilled if one of my readers won, here’s the deets.
Consumers can enter the contest by submitting a recipe on www.myfreshtwist.com: now through 10/22
o Consumers will be able to vote for their favorite recipe from 10/22 – 11/5
o Guarnaschelli and a panel of judges will choose the grand prize winner from the top ten finalists and announce the grand prize 11/22
Grand Prize Winner:
Trip for 2 to NYC including airfare, dinner and accommodations
Meet Chef Alex Guarnaschelli
Opportunity for Chef Alex Guarnaschelli to sign a copy of her debut cookbook: Old-School Comfort Food
$500 cash
9 Semi-Finalists:
$100 Visa gift card
Signed copy of Chef Alex Guarnaschelli’s cookbook: Old-School Comfort Food
Weekly Prizes:
Fisher Nut Products
Copy of Chef Alex Guarnaschelli’s cookbook: Old-School Comfort Food
Is Pumpkin Good For You?
Pumpkin is loaded with fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.
All of these nutrients are good for the heart.
Can Pumpkin Puree Be Frozen?
You can freeze pumpkin puree in freezer safe containers or heavy duty plastic bags.
The puree will keep for several months.
Where Do Pine Nuts Come From?
Pine nuts are harvested from pine trees.
The type of pine tree is typically Stone pine and Swiss pine.
Most pine nuts come from Europe.
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
Description
Ingredients
- 8 oz or 1/2 box of Campanelle Pasta
For the Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 2 Cloves of garlic
- 1/4 Cup Pine Nuts
- 1 Tablespoon Minced, Dry Onion
- 1 Cup Pumpkin Puree
- 3/4 Cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 Cup Chicken Stock
- 1/4-1/3 Cup Parmesan, grated
- 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg
- Salt to taste
For the Nuts
- 1/4 Cup Pecans, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1/8 Teaspoon Cinnamon
Instructions
- In a small skillet add the garlic, with peels on.
- Cook, turning occasionally until turning golden.
- Add the pine nuts and toast.
- Remove the garlic, peel and mince.
- Add the garlic to a large skillet and add the butter and onions as well as the pine nuts, cooking until the butter is melted, then add the pumpkin puree and stir to combine.
- Place the mixture in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Place everything back into the large skillet and add the cream, chicken broth, cheese and nutmeg.
- Whisk to combine everything and add salt to taste, ours was about 1 tablespoon kosher salt (if you use regular salt or sea salt only use about 1-2 teaspoons, tasting as you go).
- Meanwhile, add salt to a pot of water and once it reaches a boil add your pasta. Cook until al dente.
- In a small skillet, while the pasta and sauce are cooking, add the nuts and heat through.
- Add the butter and cook until melted.
- Add brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Stir a few times and spread out on parchment to cool.
- Add the pasta to the sauce and fold together, adding more salt if needed, serve with a sprinkling of nuts.
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
Anu
I made this with a few substitutes (yogurt instead of cream, pumpkin pie spice instead of just nutmeg, toasted almond flour instead of pine nuts, 2 fresh onions instead of dry onion and garlic) and it turned out fantastic! I also added pork sausage into the mix. Mmm. Thanks for the recipe!
Sweet Basil
I can’t wait to try it your way with the yogurt! Love that!
Rebecca
It was great! I don’t typically like pumpkin, but it looked so good and I thought I would try it. My blender is not the highest quality one, so it kept getting stuck. If this happens to you, I recommend throwing the chicken broth in with it. That did the trick and it pureed perfectly.
Sweet Basil
Rebecca, that is a great tip! Our last blender was the WORST! I swear it couldn’t even make an ice cream shake. It drove me nuts. Glad you liked this pasta!
Chelsea
I really likes this recipe!! I tried it because it piqued my interest even though I was wary because I only like pumpkin as a dessert. And for some reason my taste buds dislike the taste if squash so I was a bit nervous! But it was really good and creamy!! It was worth to try and venture out of my comfort zone!!
-Chelsea
Suzi
This is delicious! I burnt the pecans the first time around, but they were worth the redo! Even using a quinoa based pasta, my husband loved the dish. I will definitely make this again!
Sweet Basil
lol, I burnt mine the first round too! Almost didn’t make them again but I did and I’m so glad! Thanks for letting me know you made it. It seriously makes me so happy
Nutmeg Nanny
WOW! I am having a major craving for this dish right now, it looks divine!
Emily @ ReMarkableHome.net
I made this for dinner tonight. It was very good. I used cheese ravioli. My kids all seemed to like it. I served it with a salad and some ciabatta bread that i buttered and drizzled with olive oil and cooked face down on a grill pan. Perfect way to enjoy the extra sauce.
The recipe does not say the amount of butter to be used in the sauce. I used about 2-3 tablespoons.
Thank you for a yummy recipe!
Sweet Basil
Oh my goodness, that is my favorite way to cook bread. It sounds so yummy right now! I don’t know how the butter got deleted, but I added it back in and you were right with the amount!
Emily @ ReMarkableHome.net
ok, good to know. it was so yummy! i forgot to put the nuts on when we had it but added them to the leftovers and it made a huge difference! It made a good recipe great! Totally gourmet tasting! thanks!
Sweet Basil
Yay!!! I’m so thrilled! They totally make such a difference don’t they?
Des
YES MOVE BACK! That way you will be closer to me and we can eat food like this all the time 🙂
Liz @ Virtually Homemade
I love Alex Guarnaschelli! I was so happy when she became an Iron Chef and loooove when she judges on Chopped. Plus her food is amazing.
Aswell, I have a great new pumpkin dish – gotta love October 🙂
Coco in the Kitchen
Ohhh my goodnesses!
I almost licked the screen. I’m so making this tonight…..
Deborah
I love how creamy this looks. Want!
Sweet Basil
I’ll make it for you any day!
Gaby
Good luck! Your Creamy Pumpkin Pasta looks like a winner to me!!
Sweet Basil
Thanks, we certainly loved it!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs
I’ve just bought a pumpkin and I’m so making this for dinner tomorrow, it looks awesome!!! And I hope you win the contest, it sounds so fun! x
Sweet Basil
It’s so yummy! I hope you like it!
ashley – baker by nature
I totally just spent 5 minutes drooling over that first picture! Gorgeous, mama.
Sweet Basil
yay!! That makes me so happy!
Chantiel
What?!?! You are in Portland?!?! What are you doing in my neck of the woods, and why aren’t we getting together 😉
Sweet Basil
I was, but just for a day and then off to Tillamook! Next time if I am on my own we should get together!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough
Every year I threaten to make pumpkin pasta and I never do, ugh. But I can’t walk away from the allure of this creamy dish — making this happen in my kitchen ASAP!
Sweet Basil
I did for years too and it finally happened!!
Rina@Itheecook
What a nice spin on pasta. Perfect for the fall!
Sweet Basil
Thank you!
Rocky Mountain Woman
this looks luscious – that’s the only word i can think of – ok maybe decadent…
Sweet Basil
ohhh, I like luscious!
Erin | The Law Student’s Wife
Pumpkin pasta is one of my favorite fall dishes, and I love your version! Alex would totally approve. We keep an enormous tub of almonds on hand at all times, and they seem to find their way into everything. Congrats on the opportunity with Fisher!
Sweet Basil
Thanks Erin! We should find a brand to work on something together!
steph@stephsbitebybite
Oh YUM!!!! Why have I not ever thought of this before! GAWD…this will be done in my house!
Sweet Basil
Can’t wait to hear what you think! We devoured it!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor
Creamy pasta is one of my favorite comfort foods. Love!
Sweet Basil
it’s totally comfort food for us too!
Ali @ Inspiralized
OK really, I can smell this dish through the screen and I’m drooling. I have a decorative sugar pumpkin on my coffee table and I’m staring at it…… might have to chop him up today!!
Sweet Basil
ohhhh, perfect! I love pumpkin anything!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
omg I LOVE Alex!!! I hope you win!!! She’s amazing!!
Sweet Basil
seriously, she is amazing!