Butternut pasta seems like an unlikely combination, but it’s actually delicious. A high-speed blender is nice, but not necessary. If you do not have an air fryer, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Peel and cube:
1 lb. butternut squash
This step is a little time-consuming, so if you want to skip it, you can buy a bag of butternut squash cubes from the produce section! If you are starting from a fresh squash, you will not use the whole thing. A whole butternut squash yields about 2 1/2 lbs. of peeled squash.
Air fryer directions: Arrange the squash cubes in the tray of the air fryer and spray them with oil. Air fry the cubes for 15 minutes at 400 degrees, stirring halfway through.
Oven directions: Arrange the squash cubes on a cookie sheet and spray them with oil. Bake for 15 minutes, stir, and then bake for about another 15 minutes, or until the cubes are starting to crisp around the edges and are fork-tender.
(At this point, if you are using a regular blender, put the sunflower seeds and water in it to soak so they can soften and blend better.)
While the squash is cooking, cook according to package directions:
5 oz. pasta of your choice
To finish the sauce, blend together until completely pureed:
2 T. raw sunflower seeds
1/2 c. water
the cooked squash
1 clove garlic
2 T. nutritional yeast
2 t. lemon juice
1/4 t. spicy, smoked paprika
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. liquid smoke
Stir the butternut squash sauce and pasta together and serve with your favorite green veggie.
Find more vegan recipes here.
Sweet and Smoky Butternut Pasta
Equipment
- air fryer
- blender
Ingredients
- 1 pound butternut squash cut into cubes
- 5 ounces pasta
- 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika spicy or not
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon liquid smoke
Instructions
- If you don't have an air fryer, preheat the oven to 400.
- Add the sunflower seeds and water to the blender so they can soften.2 tablespoons sunflower seeds, 1/2 cup water
- Air fryer directions: Arrange the squash cubes in the tray of the air fryer and spray them with oil. Air fry the cubes for 15 minutes at 400 degrees, stirring halfway through.1 pound butternut squash
- Oven directions: Arrange the squash cubes on a cookie sheet and spray them with oil. Bake for 15 minutes, stir, and then bake for about another 15 minutes, or until the cubes are starting to crisp around the edges and are fork-tender.
- While the squash cooks, make the pasta according to package directions.5 ounces pasta
- Finish the sauce by adding the cooked squash and remaining sauce ingredients to the blender. Blend until smooth and serve with the pasta.1 clove garlic, 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon liquid smoke