Description
Sausage and Squash Cavatelli Delight blends hearty Italian sausage with sweet roasted butternut squash over perfectly al dente pasta. Creamy sage-infused sauce and crispy sage leaves create a comforting autumn meal that welcomes you to savor each rich, complex bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) Italian sausage (3–4 sausage links)
- 1 box cavatelli pasta
- 1 large zucchini, sliced
- 1 large yellow squash, sliced
Aromatics and Vegetables:
- 1 large shallot, halved and sliced
- 2 plum tomatoes, halved and sliced (optional)
Seasonings and Garnishes:
- 2 teaspoons (2 tsp) olive oil
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm of olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, preparing to transform the raw sausage into a flavorful foundation.
- Extract the sausage meat from its protective casing, crumbling the protein directly into the heated skillet and sizzling until each morsel achieves a rich, golden-brown exterior with no trace of pink interior.
- Transfer the perfectly cooked sausage to a separate plate, keeping the rendered fat and delicious browned bits within the pan to enhance subsequent cooking stages.
- Drizzle an additional of olive oil into the same skillet, introducing thinly sliced zucchini, yellow squash, and delicate shallots to caramelize and soften over 5-7 minutes.
- During the vegetable transformation, splash diced tomatoes into the skillet during the final moments, allowing them to gently warm and release their subtle juices.
- Simultaneously, initiate pasta preparation by bringing a separate pot of water to a rolling boil, seasoning generously with kosher salt before adding cavatelli pasta.
- Cook the cavatelli for 8-10 minutes or until achieving an authentic al dente texture, carefully preserving of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Reunite the browned sausage, sautéed vegetables, and perfectly cooked pasta in a generous mixing bowl, gradually incorporating reserved pasta water to create a silky, cohesive sauce.
- Conclude by seasoning the ensemble with freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors that celebrates each ingredient’s unique character.
Notes
- Quickly brown the sausage to develop a rich, caramelized flavor that enhances the entire dish’s depth.
- Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to create a silky, perfectly coated sauce without additional ingredients.
- Sauté vegetables at medium-high heat to achieve a golden-brown exterior while maintaining their tender, fresh texture.
- Use fresh seasonal squash varieties for maximum flavor and nutritional punch in this versatile one-pan meal.
- Select high-quality Italian sausage to provide a robust, savory foundation that elevates the entire recipe’s taste profile.
- Time management is crucial – multitask by cooking pasta while preparing vegetables to streamline the cooking process.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg