Pasta With Winter Squash & Chicken

Winter squashes pair well with pasta.

The rich, mellow flavor of winter squash makes it a natural choice to accompany pasta, risotto and other understated dishes. The sweetness of the squash is lost in pasta dishes with tomato sauce, but works well with pasta dishes that use an oil-based or cream-based sauce. It's best if you combine it with other ingredients, such as sharp cheese or strongly flavored vegetables, that provide a foil for the sweet squash. Round out the dish with lightly seasoned chicken, which won't compete with the pasta or the squash.

Things You'll Need

• 1 small to medium buttercup or butternut squash
• Vegetable oil
• Salt and pepper
• Parchment-lined baking sheet
• Broccolini, broccoli rabe or other bitter greens
• Skillet
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• Penne, fusilli or other midsize pasta
• 1 or 2 cooked chicken breasts
• Shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Peel and seed the squash, then cut it into quarter-inch dice. Toss the squash with a small amount of oil, and season it with salt and pepper.

2. Spread the squash on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast it at 425 F for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender and golden. Remove from the oven and reserve.

3. Trim a bundle of broccolini or broccoli rabe, or other bitter greens such as frisee or endive. Parboil the greens in salted water for 3 or 4 minutes, then drain and reserve.

4. Slice 2 cloves of garlic thinly, and heat them gently in a skillet with 1/2 cup of olive oil. Once the garlic is lightly browned and toasty-looking, remove it from the oil and set the oil aside.

5. Cook 1/2 pound of penne, fusilli or other midsize pasta until just tender. Drain, and set aside.

6. Return the garlic-scented olive oil to the burner. Chop the greens coarsely and add them to the pan, stirring periodically. Dice 1 or 2 chicken breasts and add them to the pan along with the squash, tossing periodically.

7. Pour the flavored oil and hot vegetables over the pasta, and sprinkle with salt and pepper and a generous handful of shredded Parmesan cheese. Toss well, and serve immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• The combination of roasted squash and diced chicken also works well with Alfredo sauce. You'll need to add enough Parmesan to balance the sweetness of the squash, or use bitter greens or lemon zest for the same purpose.

References

• Fine Cooking: The Sweet and Savory Sides of Winter Squash
• University of Illinois Extension: Winter Squash