Il Cucinologo
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Pumpkin and Feta Pasta

17/11/2023

Pasta with pumpkin and feta is a simple but flavorful dish. Here is a version with an Italian touch that I hope you will enjoy.

Ingredients

  • 320 g pasta (penne or rigatoni work well)
  • 400 g pumpkin (already cleaned and cut into cubes)
  • 200 g feta
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste (optional)
  • A few fresh sage leaves (optional)
  • Toasted pumpkin seeds for garnish (optional)
  • Grated Parmesan for serving (optional)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Spread the pumpkin cubes on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, season with salt, pepper, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and, if you like, a few torn sage leaves. Mix well to coat the pumpkin with the seasoning.
  2. Roast the pumpkin until golden and tender, about 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the cubes.
  3. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
  4. While the pasta cooks, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a large pan and lightly sauté the garlic clove to flavor the oil. Then remove the garlic.
  5. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water. Remove the pumpkin from the oven and mash some of it with a fork, leaving the remaining pieces whole for texture.
  6. Add the pasta to the pan with the garlic-infused oil, incorporate the mashed pumpkin and whole cubes, and mix well. If needed, add a little pasta cooking water to make the dish creamier.
  7. Crumble the feta and add it to the pan with the pasta and pumpkin, stirring gently.
  8. Serve hot, with an extra sprinkle of feta, toasted pumpkin seeds and, if desired, another pinch of black pepper and grated Parmesan.

Trivia

Pumpkin is a very versatile ingredient in Italian cuisine, especially in autumn. In some variations of this recipe, you might find pumpkin used for a creamy sauce or filling for ravioli. The pairing with feta is not traditional in Italy, but it highlights how Italian cuisine can be reinterpreted with ingredients from other traditions, creating new but always delicious dishes.