Roasted Pumpkin Feta Pasta Recipe

When you think of pumpkins, it's very likely that your first thoughts will be of Halloween and of plump orange jack-o'-lanterns carved with spooky faces. When Autumn comes, this popular seasonal ingredient can be found absolutely everywhere, not just as decoration but also on menus and dinner tables in savory dishes, sweet desserts, and even drinks. But did you know that pumpkins, which are often thought of as a vegetable, are actually botanically classified as a fruit? Biologically, any produce that contains seeds is considered to be a fruit, so this also includes ingredients such as tomatoes and avocados; the more you know!

This roasted pumpkin feta pasta recipe, brought to you by Tasting Table recipe developer Jennine Rye, is made by roasting chunks of pumpkin and a block of feta in the same oven tray, before mixing them together to make a delicious sauce that is sweet, savory, and super creamy. Roasted garlic, thyme, and fresh sage give the sauce an extra kick, and spinach and cooked pasta are added to finish off this dish, along with a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts. This pumpkin feta pasta recipe is both warming and comforting; the perfect meal for a chilly Autumn evening.

Preheat the oven to 375 F.

Add the sage leaves, fresh thyme, and ground nutmeg, drizzle the olive oil over everything, and season liberally with salt and pepper.

Roast in the oven for 30 minutes until the pumpkin is soft.

When the pumpkin is soft, remove the baking dish from the oven.

Remove roughly half of the cubed pumpkin and set to one side.

Remove the roasted garlic cloves from their skins.

Mix the garlic in with the feta and the cubed pumpkin.

Use the reserved pasta water to make a smooth sauce.

Add the spinach to the pan.

Add the cooked pasta to the pan.

Stir in the reserved cubed pumpkin.

This roasted pumpkin feta pasta can be served as a meal in its own right. Filling and comforting, it is everything you could want from an autumnal pasta dish. For a fresh addition, a simple side salad of dressed lettuce leaves makes a great accompaniment; nothing fancy is necessary. It also makes a wonderful side dish that can be served alongside roasted chicken thighs or lamb chops; the lamb particularly pairs well with the strong flavors of the feta.

If you happen to have any leftovers and are looking for something a little more interesting than simply reheating the meal in the microwave, why not try using this pasta dish in a frittata? Frittata di pasta is a delicious way to use up any leftover pasta; all you need to do is whisk up some eggs, then add them to an oiled pan along with the leftover pasta, and cook it like a normal frittata. It is a simple way to create a whole new meal with leftovers, and once you've tried this crispy and gooey dish you'll never want to eat leftover pasta any other way!