Hey All,  Here is a simple pasta dish that you can make on a fall evening when you want to get warm.  I am just sitting in the airport waiting to fly home this morning and so far so good from a flight perspective.  Timing is a little bit tight so I wanted to go back to a post from almost 3 years ago that is a great dish to make as the leaves change and the temperature begins to cool down.

In looking back at this dish there is something missing… Can you guess what it is?  Protein!  Yes.  So to make these an even better balanced dish, I would recommend maybe some shrimp or chicken as well.  Either or will work but I really think some grilled or pan seared shrimp with a hint of chili pepper and lime would be a super match.  Such a match that I am kind of licking my lips at 6:45 am.  Strange I know… but True!

Comfort food…

This is a very rustic dish packed with a great flavor and texture combination.

Feel free to add your favorite vegetables for this dish; there is really no limit as to what you could add for variety.

Ingredients

• Organic Spaghetti
• 1 Acorn Squash
• 1 Medium White Onion
• 2 Tomatoes
• 1 Cup Maple Syrup
• 1 Tbsp. Soy Sauce
• 1 Clove Garlic (crushed)
• 1 Tsp. Black Pepper
• 1 Tsp. Salt
• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Method

Sauce

1. In a medium sauce pan add a touch of olive oil and saute the garlic.
2. Cook gently for 4 minutes, then add maple syrup and soy sauce and bring to a boil.
3. Let reduce for 10 minutes on simmer.

Vegetables and Pasta

1. Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F.
2. Prepare acorn squash and white onion and cut into small chunks, place on lined cookie sheet.



3. Drizzle vegetables with olive oil, salt and pepper.
4. Bake for 20 minutes.



5. Add tomatoes to cookie sheet.



6. Baste vegetables with the sauce at this point.
7. Bake an additional 10 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and peel squash.
9. Cook spaghetti as per directions (reserve 2 Tablespoons of pasta water).
10. Once cooked, add pasta back to the cooking pot, toss in the vegetables, pour over the sauce and reserved water.
11. Mix gently.

 

12. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: If at anytime you find your sauces to thin or runny, add a slurry to thicken the sauce.  A slurry is a tablespoon of cornstarch or flour to 2 tablespoons of luke warm water.  Mix that together without any lumps and add it to the sauce.  bring the sauce to a boil and watch it thicken.  adjust amounts of starch and water based on the quantity of sauce.

What is your favorite side dish to eat with pasta? Mine has to be fresh bread of any kind.  Park me in front of this plate with a slab of homemade bread and zesty is a happy camper.

Have a great Wednesday and I will chat with you on Friday.

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty