Pumpkin Pasta Bake (Printable Version)

Smooth pumpkin pasta mixed with gooey mozzarella, Parmesan, and crispy golden breadcrumbs.

# Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Liquids

01 - 240 milliliters heavy cream
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 120 milliliters vegetable broth

→ Pasta

04 - 340 grams rotini or pasta shells

→ Cheeses & Toppings

05 - 2 tablespoons (30 grams) melted butter
06 - 1 cup (100 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1/2 cup (50 grams) panko breadcrumbs
08 - 1 cup (100 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
11 - 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped (optional)
12 - 2 cups (460 grams) pumpkin puree
13 - 1 small onion, finely chopped

→ Spices & Seasonings

14 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
15 - 1 teaspoon salt
16 - 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

# Detailed Preparation Steps:

01 - Let the dish cool a bit first. Sprinkle fresh parsley and if you want, sage on top. Serve while it's warm.
02 - Pop it in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is all bubbly.
03 - Mix breadcrumbs, melted butter, and the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan in a bowl. Spread it evenly on the pasta.
04 - Grease a 23x33 cm baking dish and pour the pasta mix inside.
05 - Stir the sauce and cooked pasta together so everything's coated well.
06 - Take the pan off the heat and mix in half the mozzarella and Parmesan. Stir until the cheese melts right in.
07 - Let the sauce cook for about 8 to 10 minutes. Give it a stir now and then until it thickens a bit.
08 - Turn the heat down and stir in pumpkin puree, cream, broth, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix it all up well.
09 - Throw in the minced garlic and cook for 1 or 2 minutes until it smells amazing.
10 - Heat olive oil in a big pan over medium heat. Cook chopped onion for about 5 minutes until you can see through it.
11 - Boil pasta in salted water following the package directions till it’s just tender, then drain and set aside.
12 - Get the oven ready by setting it to 190°C or 375°F.

# Helpful Tips:

01 - To get a super smooth sauce, blend the pumpkin mixture before adding cheese with a hand blender.
02 - You can change the nutmeg to make it milder or stronger.
03 - Feel free to add veggies like mushrooms or spinach to change things up.

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