Roasted Butternut Squash Linguine

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the Oven

   1 min

   Begin by setting your oven temperature to 200°C (or 180°C if using a fan oven). This will ensure that it reaches the right heat for roasting the vegetables, creating a perfect caramelization on the butternut squash.

2. 2

   Prepare Vegetables for Roasting

   5 min

   On a baking tray, arrange the diced butternut squash and whole garlic cloves. Drizzle everything generously with olive oil, making sure to coat the squash evenly to enhance flavor and promote browning during roasting. Toss lightly to combine.

3. 3

   Roast Until Tender

   1 min

   Place the baking tray in the preheated oven and roast the vegetables for about 35-40 minutes. The butternut squash should be fork-tender and lightly caramelized, indicating it's ready to be blended into a sauce.

4. 4

   Cook the Linguine

   21 min

   While the squash is roasting, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the linguine pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve about 400ml of the cooking water before draining the pasta to help create a creamy sauce later.

5. 5

   Blend the Squash and Garlic

   16 min

   Once the butternut squash and garlic are roasted, transfer them to a blender or use a stick blender. Add about 400ml of the reserved pasta cooking water and blend until you achieve a smooth, creamy consistency. Adjust the texture by adding more water if necessary.

6. 6

   Fry the Sage

   13 min

   In a frying pan, add a splash of olive oil and heat over medium-high. Add the sage leaves and fry them until they become crispy, which should take only a couple of minutes. Once crispy, remove the sage and let it drain on a piece of kitchen paper to absorb excess oil.

7. 7

   Combine Pasta and Sauce

   9 min

   In the same frying pan used for the sage, add the drained linguine pasta and the blended squash sauce. Toss everything together over low heat until warmed through, ensuring the pasta is well-coated with the sauce. If the mixture appears too thick, add a little more reserved cooking water to reach desired creaminess.

8. 8

   Garnish and Serve

   2 min

   Plate the pasta and sauce mixture, then top with the crispy fried sage leaves for added texture and flavor. Serve immediately for a delightful vegetarian meal that combines comfort and elegance.