Creamy butternut squash pasta

https://www.loveandlemons.com/butternut-squash-pasta/?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3+Plant-Based+Dinners+to+Try+This+Week%20-%207382114 

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Serves 4

Roasted squash, sage, and thyme fill this creamy butternut squash pasta with cozy autumn flavor. Serve it with sautéed broccoli or any veggie side dish you like.This ended up too thick to use as a pasta sauce, but it was delicious as a dip - especially with fenugreek roti from Guru grocery store.  Can try it with more water to thin it out for a sauce, and maybe add more of the flavorings. 

Ingredients

• ½ small butternut squash, halved vertically, and seeded
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 shallots, coarsely chopped (½ cup)
• 3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• ¾ cup water
• ½ cup raw cashews
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 10 fresh sage leaves
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, plus a few leaves for garnish
• 12 ounces rotini pasta
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Sauteed broccoli, for serving, optional

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Drizzle the squash with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place cut-side down on the baking sheet. Wrap the shallot and garlic cloves in foil with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and place on the baking sheet. Roast for 30 minutes or until the squash is soft. 
• Scoop 1 cup of the squash flesh and transfer to a blender with the shallot, peeled garlic, water, cashews, 2 tablespoons olive oil, nutritional yeast, vinegar, sage, thyme, ¾ teaspoon salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Blend until creamy.
• Cook the pasta according to package directions in a pot of salted boiling water. Reserve 1 cup of the hot pasta water.
• Drain the pasta and return to the pot. Stir in the sauce, adding 1/2 to 1 cup of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce and coat the pasta. Season with ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt. Top with freshly ground black pepper, a few thyme leaves and sautéed broccoli, if desired.