Spicy Butternut Squash Pasta With Spinach

I also love butternut squash but hate to peel it. I find that making a few slits in the skin and then putting it in the microwave oven for 3 to 4 minutes makes the job much easier.

This was a big hit with the fam! A bit of sage with the squash. Salt at every step, and salt, pepper and red pepper flakes at the end, with a drizzle of good olive oil. Next time would make a quick pickle of jalapeños instead of using them raw, to take the edge off and add some acid.

I added a carrot to the squash for more color and I wish I had a family to which I could serve this.

Amazing recipe! Highly recommend. I used a Dutch oven and subbed ricotta for the mozzarella. I broiled the dish in the oven for three minutes to make the pasta crispier. Super comforting fall dish.

I will try this soon, but will save my peeler. Since the squash is to be mostly mashed anyway, much easier to leave skin on, halve and de-seed, bake until nearly done and scoop flesh out of the skin...my preferred way of cooking squash. The cut into chunks and brown as called for.

I'm confused on cooking the squash -- 6 cups is way too big for a skillet, so the dutch oven makes sense, but if you're cooking in oil you're only really browning the squash at the very bottom of the pan, and the rest isn't even being steamed (since there's no other liquid added). If browning is what you're after, doesn't it make more sense to roast the squash in the oven to brown all of it at once?

Added Italian sausage and doubled the cheese. My family raved!

This recipe turned out horribly. The timing was incorrect and spice quantities questionable. Honestly why throw jalapeno rounds on top of red pepper flakes (and I like spice) without rounding it out with other flavors? Wish I had gone curry like the alternate but with that profile the cheese flavors don't mix and you'd have to sub in something more appropriate. The result, compounded by two competing Presidential town halls has basically sprained my marriage

This was a lovely dish. Definitely undercook your pasta, don’t be skimpy with spices. I would leave the squash cubed instead of mashing half—the mashed squash plus mozzarella makes this a bit soft and some contrast is needed.

Made this for dinner tonight. I am usually not a fan of squash or pumpkin in a pasta dish, but this really worked well. It was quick, easy and delicious. A couple of variations for my family's preferences: I would increase the chili flakes and add 2 or even 3 (instead of 1) jalapenos. I would also double the amount of mozzarella. The recipe is versatile enough to switch squash for other vegetables of our choice. Which I may do (thinking cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus or mushrooms...)

When a NYT recipe says it serves 4, I figure 3 is more likely. This is an exception - easily serves 6. I could not figure out where the flavor was going with cumin or curry, take your pick. I tried using half as much cumin, a little smoked paprika, and then added some dukkah for crunch and more seasoning on top of the cheese. It worked out well and we’ll make it again.

Indeed, the most time-consuming part is peeling, seeding, and cutting up the squash, but I love winter squash, ans this recipe really hit the spot on a cool, damo, blustery evening. Made in my Dutch oven. I think it could have used a higher squash-to-pasta ratio, however: 2-1/2 pounds of squash seemed to get lost in a pound of pasta . I think I would have added more spinach, too. But it was basically good and came together quickly once I got the squash seeded, peeled, and diced.

Used delicata squash because it’s what I had on hand and I didn’t peel it. Swiss chard instead of spinach. Don’t skimp on salt and spices and cheese. Nice autumn baked dish.

I always put the ricotta in a food processor before I use it. You'll be amazed at how smooth and creamy it is. Think of the smooth filling for cannoli, but without the sugar.

Where do you live? I’ll swing by for a to-go order!