I love noodles.  As a kid I loved a plate of gooey Mac and cheese (Kraft), spaghetti-o’s or Mom’s lasagne.   But I was equally enamored with a steaming bowl of won ton noodles or plate of chow mein. Today, living in the Bay Area, my noodle choices seem infinite;  shoyu ramen or Vietnamese pho, pad thai or chop jae, all just a stone’s throw away or fortunately for “Silicon Valley-ites”, just an app (Door Dash) delivery away!  Courtesy of Giada de Laurentis, a simple 5 ingredient pasta, Rigatoni with Butternut Squash, Spicy Sausage and Arugula that is both easy and delicious.

Boxed pasta, pre-cut squash, and spicy Italian sausage from your favorite grocery store, makes quick work of a weekday dinner.  While the pasta boils, the butternut squash is braised in liquid (water or stock) and smooshed with a spoon.  This adds creaminess and a touch of sweetness to the pasta that plays well with the spiciness of the sausage and the bite from the arugula.

In full defiance of our “carb-phobia” there are times when a bowl of pasta just hits the spot. A couple of new favorites like this one, and a tried and true cold noodle salad, both perfect for the summer.  Let me know if you like them.

Print Pin

A Pasta for All Seasons

Ingredients

• Adapted from Giada's Pasta with Butternut Squash and Spicy Sausage
• Ingedients:
• 1 pound rigatoni
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus 3 tablespoons for finishing
• 1 pound spicy Italian sausage casing removed
• 1 pound butternut squash peeled and cut into 1/3 inch pieces (when I'm press for time buy the precut squash from TJ's
• 1-2 coves of garlic peeled and minced
• 1 minced shallot or quarter of a yelow onion minced.
• 1 1/2 cups water or broth
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese divided
• 2 cups roughly chopped baby arugula or baby spinach

Instructions

• Bring pot of water to boil, add 1 tsp salt and pasta. Cook as directed for al dente and drain in colander. Set pasta aside. In a saute pan heat 2 T olive oil, add garlic and shallots and saute until translucent and just about to brown. Add sausage, and break it into smaller pieces while sauteing until it loses its pink color. Add squash and stir until combined. Add water or broth and simmer until squash is tender and liquid has been reduced by approximately half around 10 minutes. Add pasta and 3/4 of parmesan cheese to pan and toss to incorporate pasta and sauce. Pour pasta into bowl and add arugula or spinach and toss to slightly wilt greens. Serve immediately.