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Butternut Squash Pasta with Kale and Ricotta

Smooth and buttery roasted butternut squash pasta with roasted kale and creamy ricotta, made with big flavors from roasting in a hot oven.
Prep Time45 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Dinner
Keyword: vegetarian
Servings: 2
Author: Ruthy Kirwan

Equipment

  • 1 Full-Size Sheet Pan, 11 x 7 inch

Ingredients

  • 1 butternut squash
  • 2 large bunch curly kale
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
  • 4 ounces whole milk ricotta

Instructions

Prep Ahead:

  • Peel and dice the butternut squash, and roast according to the instructions in Steps 1-4. Transfer to a resealable bag or container.
  • Cut and roast the kale according to the instructions in Steps 5-6. Transfer to a resealable bag or container.
  • Store the roasted squash and cooked kale in the fridge for up to 5 days. Do not freeze (it won’t thaw well!)

Prepare From Prepped:

  • Thaw the ingredients as necessary.
  • Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package, then drain and set aside.
  • While the paste is cooking, reheat the butternut squash and kale either by heating over low heat in a saucepan, or in the microwave.
  • Toss the butternut squash and kale with the pasta, then top with ricotta pasta. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

Make From Fresh:

  • Preheat the oven to 450*.
  • While the oven is preheating, peel the squash and slice in half. Scoop out the seeds, and cut the squash into large dice.
  • Spread the squash on a large rimmed sheet pan and toss with olive oil and a healthy sprinkle of salt.
  • Place the squash in the oven and roast 35-45 minutes, or until soft and cooked through and beginning to brown. Remove from oven and set aside until cool enough to handle.
  • While the squash is roasting, slice away the thick stems from the kale and roughly chop the leaves.
  • Toss the kale with olive oil and a healthy sprinkle of salt, and spread evenly on a rimmed sheet pan.
  • Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Drain and set aside.
  • When the butternut squash is roasted and removed from the oven, add the kale. Roast for 8-10 minutes or until the edges have begun to crisp and the kale has wilted and softened. Remove from the oven and set aside until cool enough to handle.
  • Toss the pasta, roasted butternut squash, and roasted kale together in a large bowl. Taste and season with more salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste.
  • Serve hot with dollops of cold ricotta cheese on top.

Notes

This creamy, texture-heavy dish combines chewy and creamy textures with sweet and nutty flavor profiles. It’s all topped with a delicious dollop of creamy ricotta cheese.