How to Make Butternut Squash and Spinach over Whole Wheat Penne

Butternut squash is a tasty and healthy vegetable that is probably not an everyday first choice. Try this easy recipe and start enjoying your local winter squash tonight!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Butternut Squash
• Cleaned Baby Spinach Leaves
• Small Onion
• Some Garlic Cloves
• Water
• Garlic Powder
• Parley
• Oregano
• Whole Wheat Penne
• Skillet

1. Prepare the butternut squash (http://www.ehow.com/how_4857372_peel-butternut-squash.html). Cut into one inch cubes. Set aside.

2. Rinse baby spinach leaves under cold water in a strainer. Set aside.

3. Cook whole wheat pasta and set aside. Chop small onion into about the size of a pea.

4. Peel about five cloves of garlic or more if you choose. Mince the garlic and set aside.

5. In a large skillet add about two-three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Heat pan on medium-high. Add onions to the pan and stir to keep it from burning.

6. Add minced garlic to the hot pan with onions. Stir to keep from burning. Remove from heat after about three minutes.

7. Add one and a half cups of water slowly to the cooled pan of onions and garlic. Put the skillet back on medium-high heat and add about one teaspoon of garlic powder and one teaspoon of dried parsley.

8. Add cut butternut squash to the pan with water and cover. Once the water starts simmering, leave butternut squash for ten minutes. Make sure the pan is covered.

9. After ten minutes add the cleaned baby spinach. Stir.

10. In a large pot, put cooked whole wheat penne inside. Add the butternut squash and spinach mixture to the penne. Mix all together. Add cracked black pepper, and salt to taste.

Tips & Warnings

• Add crushed red pepper for a little spice.
• When adding the water to the pan with the cooked onions and garlic, make sure pan is at room temperature otherwise it will splatter.

Resources

• How to Peel Butternut Squash

[DiscountTickets]

on 10/31/2009 This sounds so delicious, I'll give this a try.

[amberdawn]

on 10/31/2009 I love butternut squash and pasta but never tried them together! A question for you: once you add the spinach to the squash mixture, how long do you leave it to cook?

[ladyselene]

on 8/27/2009 I have been looking for butternut squash recipes since a friend gave us some from his garden. This is just the sort of dish I love to cook, fresh vegies and whole wheat pasta. Yum! *****

[Surfthetide]

on 6/26/2009 This sounds yummy. I'm going to try it. 5* and an R

[3CMom]

on 3/22/2009 yummy and healthy. *****