Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Step 1: Prepare the Water and Sausage
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, place the sausage in a skillet or sauté pan large enough to hold all the pasta. Cover the sausage with enough cold water to submerge them completely. Set the pan over medium-high heat. Remove the pan from the heat as soon as the water comes to a boil, which takes about 8–10 minutes.
Step 2: Slice and Sear the Sausage
- Transfer the cooked sausage to a cutting board and slice it into ½-inch coins. Dry out the pan, then return it to the stove. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over high heat until nearly smoking. Add the sausage slices and cook until they are deeply browned on both sides, flipping once (this takes about 5–7 minutes). Remove them to a paper towel-lined plate.
Step 3: Brown the Butternut Squash
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the butternut squash to the pan with a pinch of salt. Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping up the browned bits from the pan. The squash should be lightly caramelized but still hold its shape. Test its tenderness with a fork—it should yield easily but have a bit of resistance.
Step 4: Cook the Pasta
- While the squash is browning, add your pasta to the boiling water. Cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
Step 5: Make the Browned Butter Sage Sauce
- When the squash is golden and tender, add the butter and sage leaves to the pan. Heat just until the butter becomes foamy and develops a nutty aroma (about 1–2 minutes). Be careful not to let the butter burn. Then, remove the pan from heat and stir the sausage back into the pan.
Step 6: Combine and Finish
- Add the drained pasta to the pan and toss everything together to coat evenly with the browned butter sauce. Return the pan to low heat if necessary to warm the pasta. Stir in the grated Parmesan and mix until melted. Pour in the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, to achieve a creamy consistency for the sauce. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan if desired.
Nutrition
Notes
This recipe includes options for gluten-free and vegan adaptations to suit dietary preferences. Modify the sausage and Parmesan accordingly. Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.