Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta + Bacon | Easy Butternut Squash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What pairs well with butternut? ›

Dry cooking methods such as roasting and sauteeing tend to bring a squash's sugars to the fore. You might want to blanch or par-cook the squash in a little bit of water before sauteeing; that would diminish the sweetness somewhat but allow you to finish the dish in the prescribed fashion.

There are a few wines which pair equally well with this pasta dish. Pinot Noir really is the ultimate match for butternut squash anything. It has the red fruit notes to contrast the nutty flavors of the squash and herbal aromatics.

Butternut squash, or winter squash, is harvested in the fall but it keeps well for several months. It is a good source of fiber, potassium, and several other key nutrients. The nutritional content of squash makes it beneficial for digestion, blood pressure, and for healthy skin and hair, among others.

Digestion. Butternut squash contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber speeds up the passage of foods through the stomach and intestines; soluble fiber holds onto water and turns into gel during digestion. It slows digestion and nutrient absorption from the stomach and intestines.

If you pick too early, the flesh will not be fully developed and the squash will lack flavor and not be that wonderfully vegetal sweet that is the wonder of butternut, honeynut, delicata, acorn, pumpkin and kabocha, among dozens of other winter squash.

Raw butternut squash can cause some people to develop an allergic skin reaction called “squash hands.” Wearing gloves while handling the fruit or purchasing prepared butternut squash can help you prevent this skin reaction. A 1% hydrocortisone cream can help alleviate squash hands symptoms.

A Vermentino, a white wine from Italy, would be a delightful pairing with Butternut Squash Pasta. This wine is known for its high acidity and citrus flavors, which would cut through the richness of the dish, while its subtle herbal notes would complement the savory aspects of the pasta.

For red wine lovers, Pinot Noir wines offer a crisp, fruity mouthfeel, ideal for accompanying cucurbit-based dishes such as squash, pumpkin and butternut squash. Alsace red wines from the Pinot Noir grape variety will be delicious with your squash ravioli.

Taste. Pinot grigio, undoubtedly the most popular of the two, is lighter-bodied, crisp, clean, and vibrant with citrus flavors, according to Wine Spectator. Pinot gris, on the other hand, is sweet, and has spicy tropical fruit aromas. It generally has low acidity, higher alcohol levels, and a rich texture.

What protein pairs well with butternut squash? ›

I especially love serving pork with butternut squash, but chicken, beef, and even seafood pair well with it too!

When I'm making it the center of a meal, I serve it with good crusty bread, homemade focaccia, avocado toast, or corn muffins and a simple veggie side or fall salad. Here are a few of my favorites: Simple Lemon Green Beans. Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon Zest.

Round out the meal with homemade focaccia or crusty bread and a vegetable side dish. I like to pair this butternut squash risotto with a simple salad, like my Pear Salad or Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, or roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or broccoli. Don't forget the apple crumble for dessert!