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Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta
October 9, 2015
Uh oh…saw yesterday on the news that there may be a shortage of pumpkins this year (due to so much rain)! So it’s time to hurry off to the store or pumpkin stand and get one while you can…and stock up on your canned pumpkin too. They might be more expensive than usual so be prepared. You certainly can’t be caught shorthanded during this holiday season, whether your pumpkins are for decorating or eating!
Cookie (my Mom) and I had a discussion over dinner (while eating this delicious Italian Sausage Pumpkin Pasta, of course!) about the health attributes of pumpkins. This favorite fall squash is known to help with vision, improve our immunity systems, and even aid in weight loss. Wow…who knew?
But getting at the goodness of a pumpkin isn’t easy. It’s like any of those tough skinned squash…you risk losing a finger. So we need an easy shortcut. One of my favorite things to buy this time of year pre-cut is butternut squash. Do you recall my recipe for Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce? (It’s time to bring that recipe out again!) In the case of pumpkin too, we have another shortcut that will make you happy. With our Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta, you can use canned pumpkin. Yes I said “canned”, and yes, you can.
There is a debate surrounding the nutritional aspects of canned veggies. Some argue that the canned alternatives of vegetables are never as high in nutrients as the fresh. During processing, some manufacturers add sugars and salt. Others claim that fresh vegetables lose their nutritional value over time, so it really depends on the age of the veggie while canned vegetables retain their nutritional value. But good news! With pumpkin, both canned and fresh are packed with goodness – lots of potassium, vitamin A, etc. So go ahead and pull out the can opener!
Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta just tastes like autumn. The pumpkin flavor itself is subtle and the spices just add the right smell and punch to the dish. If you didn’t know there was pumpkin in this recipe, you might not even know it was there. So be adventurous and try it.
Our entire family loved this pasta when we served it. The combination of sausage, pumpkin, coconut milk, and spices make for a hearty yet light meal. It’s not often we can say that!
And for added texture and crunch, we topped it off with pepitas (toasted pumpkin seeds). And did you notice the pumpkin sauce is served with our “Zucchette” pumpkin pasta?! Triple pumpkin fun! The pumpkin shape is perfect for these types of heartier sauces. You can find it also in our Healthy Beef Ragu with Mint recipe. Warning: you’ll fall for it too! 🙂
Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta
Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta combines fall flavors and textures. Pumpkin, Italian sausage, coconut milk, and spices create a hearty yet light pasta!
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz. Italian Inspired “Zucchette” Pasta (may substitute penne or rigatoni)
- 2 T. olive oil
- 1 lb. Italian sausage
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 sprigs sage leaves, chiffonade (thinly cut), or 2-3 t. dried sage
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
- 2/3 cup coconut milk
- 1/8 t. cinnamon
- 1/2 t. nutmeg
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Fresh Parmesan cheese, grated
- Pepitas for garnish
Instructions
- In a large nonstick pan, brown sausage over medium high heat with 1 T. olive oil.
- Transfer sausage to a plate lined with paper towels.
- Drain excess fat from pan, add 1 T. olive oil, and saute the onion and garlic until transparent, approx. 4-5 minutes.
- Add white wine, sage, and bay leaf to pan. Reduce wine by about half. Should take just a couple of minutes.
- Add chicken broth and pumpkin and stir until sauce begins to simmer.
- Add sausage and coconut milk and reduce heat. Stir to combine.
- Season with cinnamon and nutmeg. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer sauce 8-10 minutes until thickened. Remove bay leaf.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions and drain.
- In a serving dish, pour sauce over pasta and toss gently.
- Serve pasta in bowls topped with fresh Parm and pepitas! Enjoy!
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Why do so many people leave feedback on a recipe they have not tried? Who cares if you think it looks yummy? Where are the actual reviews of the recipe?
Haha! I guess the pictures are inspiring!:) Can’t wait to read your review!
I really love the coconut milk in this recipe. Your pumpkin pasta is not only beautiful, but tastes wonderful. This is a hit.
I made a pumpkin pasta sauce before and it was delicious. Your recipe looks divine!
I’ll bet it tastes like “fall”! Looks delish!
pumpkin and pasta sounds good to eat I THINK!!
I wouldn’t have thought this would be something I would like but that looks delicious.
This dish looks delish!
Here for #WackyWednesday
Looks so yummy!
Thank you for the recipe! I am always up to trying something different and looks really really good!
Yummy! I love the fall pumpkin flavors 🙂
Yummy lookin’ ..thanks for the chance #WackyWednesday
yummy love wacky wednesday
Looks so good
Love Pasta House.
That sounds yummy this time of year!
I love the pumpkin pasta, italian sausage not so much so I would just substitute something else.
Looks delicious!!
I think I can do this! Sounds yummy!
This looks delicious!
yummy looks good
Can’t wait to try this one.
This looks really good and is on my grocery list to try soon!
looks delish !!~
These are simply perfect for fall meals. What great inspiration!
What a nice fall supper idea! Thanks for sharing.
Love pasta and pumpkin. Sounds delicious!
looks yummy, i see a new family favorite!!
This looks so good, ty for sharing the recipe with us. Will have to try it.
The Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta Looks very Delectable! Going to try This Today!
Will definitely be trying this
Look Really YUMMY!Thank 4 The Recipe..
This looks delicious!
wow that looks amazing
Looks delicious
Let me know what you think after you try it!
This looks like a yummy fall recipe!
Looks delicious… Love everything pumpkin!
Looks yummy!!
can’t wait to try this recipe!
OMG you made me hungry, sounds so good
Hearty and filling for those cool fall evening meals.
this is a really unique recipe, I like the ingredients and hope to make this for our Sunday dinner #WackyWednesday
This looks like a hearty and tasty menu option for fall. I am going to try and make this next weekend when we have family coming to town. Thank you for the idea and the recipe AND the giveaway!
gotta try this one! warm us up with some delicious pasta with this crisp weather!
Yum! This looks delicious!
That sounds ABSOLUTELY delicious!! <3
This looks amazing!!!
Looks delicious and a must have!
wow this looks great
Yum! My son thanks you so much for this recipe. He loves pumpkin. ?
Wow that looks really good and easy.
Pepitas is a cool choice! Sounds really good. Can’t wait to try it out! All we need now is some fall weather in CA (over 90 degreed today)!
This looks and sounds amazing. I would add mushrooms for extra protein! 🙂
Delicious!
Looks amazingly delicious, I will be making this..YUM!!!!!!!!! #WackyWednesday
My husband will be very happy when I make this! I think the coconut milk is going to give it a nice twist!
Perfect for today!
I did not know that there was pumpkin pasta! This sounds perfect for a cool fall day! Thank you for the recipe! I plan to try it!
YUMMY! Sounds fantastic! Going to try this weekend!
This looks and sounds amazing ! Definitely gonna try it !
This looks delicious. I think I may eliminate the sausage and just eat the pumpkin pasta part!
This looks delicious! #WackyWednesday
i am going to the grocery store to get the ingredients for this today looks fabulous
this recipe sounds great and perfect for this time of year…
Looks delicious!
Looks great love to try.
Looks yummy will be trying this one ty
I am so glad you included the recipie! Can’t wait to fix this for dinner one night!
Please let me know what you think when you try it.
Sounds yummy!
looks totally amazing. Great fall dish!
I love fall
This look absolutely amazing! I will definitely be sharing this on my facebook page with my Origami Owl customers! Thanks you!
Everything looks delicious
I am going to have to make this for dinner
Great recipe. I’m going to try it!
Great! Let me know what you think when you try it.
I would love to win this pasta , my twins love it! All what they want to eat is pasta! This pasta looks so good and healthy!
Looks delicious!
The perfect pasta for fall!
This looks really good, and perfect for this time of the year
I am going to have to try out this recipe. It looks good!
Yummy- and I can share the healthy pumpkin w/ my pup
wow that looks really good gotta try this
Looks delicious!
This Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta looks absolutely delicious. I’ve never combined the flavors of pumpkin and pasta together, but it sounds heavenly. I love that this recipe is a mixture of healthy & comfort food. Perfect meal for a chilly Fall day <3 Thanks for sharing with us!
You are so welcome Sarah!
This recipe looks so yummy!
looks delicious
Love the pepita garnish. I will definitely try this, it looks delicious.
Oh lordy lord this dish looks amazing!!!! ☺
Definitely a must try!
Beautiful pictures and food! Thanks for posting!!
Pumpkin leaves such a comforting, unique and familiar flavor to pasta.
This looks super yummy
i need to try this!
I must try this recipe! It looks fabulous!
This is a must try! Yum!
Looks yummy. And a shortage of pumpkin is sad. 🙁
YES! A pumpkin shortage in a world of pumpkin spice lovers is very sad…
Your Zucchette pumpkin shaped pasta is beautiful and so unique. I need some!! It will make all of my pasta dishes look more sophisticated than they actually are!
This sounds so warm and comforting. Can’t wait to try it! I heard the other day that pumpkin is also good for dogs when they are having digestive problems. However, I think I’ll keep it for myself and give him regular dog food. Sorry, Marley.