Pasta with Delicata Squash and Sage-Brown Butter

Ingredients for Pasta with Delicata Squash and Sage-Brown Butter

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

• 14 large sage leaves

• 1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) or plain coarse breadcrumbs

• 2 medium delicata squash (about 800g total), halved lengthwise, seeded, sliced crosswise into 1/4"-thick half-moons.

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 350g thick spaghetti or bucatini

• Thinly shaved Parmesan cheese

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until butter turns caramel-brown and smells nutty, 2–3 minutes. Add sage leaves and fry until crispy, 10–15 seconds. Remove from heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sage to paper towels to drain. Pour all but 2 tablespoons brown butter into a small bowl.

Cook panko and 4 sage leaves in same skillet, stirring to break up sage, until mixture is toasty, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Cook squash and 45ml brown butter in same skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until squash begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/8 teaspoons pepper, and 180ml water; cover pan and cook until squash begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Remove lid and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and squash is tender and caramelized, about 5 minutes more.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 8–10 minutes. Drain, reserving 180ml pasta cooking liquid.

Add remaining 45ml brown butter to skillet and stir until squash is evenly coated. Add 120ml pasta cooking liquid and simmer until a thin sauce forms, about 1 minute; season with 1 teaspoon pepper. Add pasta, tossing to coat and adding pasta cooking water as needed to coat pasta. Remove from heat, top with half of the reserved sage, and stir to combine.

Transfer pasta to a large serving bowl or individual pasta bowls. Top with panko mixture, remaining sage, and a generous shaving of Parmesan.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.