Description
Creamy “pumpkin mac and cheese” brings autumn comfort to classic comfort food, blending rich cheese and seasonal warmth. Hearty pasta swirled with smooth pumpkin sauce promises delicious comfort perfect for chilly evenings you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 ounces (170 grams) mezzi rigatoni or preferred pasta
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk or heavy cream
- 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Herbs and Spices:
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 2 sage leaves
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
- 2 tablespoons shallot, finely chopped
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until perfectly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Set aside 1/3 cup of starchy cooking liquid for later use.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Introduce finely chopped shallots, aromatic herbs like bay leaf, rosemary, and sage. Sauté until fragrant, then quickly incorporate minced garlic for an additional minute.
- Incorporate pumpkin puree into the herb-infused base. Gently pour coconut milk and sprinkle ground spices including thyme, paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Whisk continuously until mixture becomes velvety and thoroughly heated, allowing gentle simmer for 2 minutes.
- Extract whole herb sprigs from the sauce. Gradually add cheddar and parmesan cheeses, stirring consistently until completely melted and silky smooth.
- Introduce cooked pasta into the creamy pumpkin sauce, using reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency. Carefully fold until every pasta strand is luxuriously coated.
- Transfer to serving dishes, optionally garnishing with additional freshly grated parmesan cheese for enhanced flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Boost the nutrition by adding roasted butternut squash or sweet potato for extra depth and vitamins.
- Swap regular pasta with gluten-free or whole wheat options to accommodate dietary restrictions and add more fiber.
- Create a vegan version by using nutritional yeast instead of cheese and cashew cream in place of dairy milk for a creamy texture.
- Enhance flavor complexity by toasting herbs and spices briefly before adding to the sauce, which releases deeper, more intense aromatics.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 392
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg