suemunzlinger's Recipe

Squash Carbonara with Pancetta and Sage

Category: Main Dish

Ingredients


Servings: 4
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 oz. pancetta (Italian bacon), chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage
1 2-lb. kabocha* note or butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (about 3 cups)
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 oz. fettucine or linguine
1/4 cup finely grated Pecorino* NOTE, plus shaved for serving






Preparation


Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pancetta, reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8–10 minutes. Add sage and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pancetta and sage to a small bowl; set aside.


Add squash, onion, and garlic to skillet; season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 8–10 minutes. Add broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until squash is soft and liquid is reduced by half, 15–20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then purée in a blender until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Reserve skillet.


Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.


Combine pasta, squash purée, and ¼ cup pasta cooking liquid in reserved skillet and cook over medium heat, tossing and adding more pasta cooking liquid as needed, until sauce coats pasta, about 2 minutes. Mix in ¼ cup Pecorino; season with salt and pepper.


Serve pasta topped with reserved pancetta and sage, shaved Pecorino, and more pepper.


Do Ahead: Squash purée can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

Note:

you can use equal parts of parmesan and asiago cheese

Kabocha has an exceptional naturally sweet flavor, even sweeter in taste than butternut squash. It is used in a lot in soups in Japan.

You can add more sage if you like
Substitute bacon instead of pancetta if you desire.