I am struggling to find a good butternut squash spaghetti sauce recipe. If anyone can recommend a tasty recipe they have tried I would would like to hear from you.
I hear you. Finding a good vegan butternut squash pasta sauce can be a real pain. I have tried a few that just didn't work. This one is a winner, though. Rich, creamy, proper comfort food without any dairy.
Here is a solid one to get you started.
Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
1 medium butternut squash, about 2 lbs, peeled, seeded, and cubed
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup full fat coconut milk
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg, optional
1 lb pasta, penne or rotini works well
Instructions
Roast the squash. Preheat your oven to 400°F, that is 200°C. Toss the cubed squash with one tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until tender and a bit caramelised.
Sauté the aromatics. While the squash roasts, heat the remaining oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook the onion until soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute, until it smells good.
Make the sauce. In a blender, combine the roasted squash, the onion and garlic, broth, coconut milk, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Blitz until completely smooth and creamy.
Cook the pasta. Follow the packet instructions. Scoop out about half a cup of the pasta water before you drain it.
Combine and serve. Pour the sauce into a large pan over low heat. If it looks too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water. Toss in the cooked pasta and stir well. Serve straight away.
A few notes from my own kitchen.
Full fat coconut milk is the secret to that rich, creamy texture. Swap it and you lose the magic. Roasting the squash brings out its natural sweetness, so do not skip that. Nutritional yeast gives a subtle cheesy flavour, but you can leave it out if you have none. And this sauce freezes brilliantly. Make a big batch and save some for a lazy night.
If you are struggling to find nutritional yeast or a decent vegetable broth, larger supermarkets sometimes stock them. I have had luck ordering pantry staples online from McGrocer when my local shop lets me down. Saves a trip.
Hope this hits the spot for you, Jojo. Let me know how it turns out. Cheers.