Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta Alfredo

It is not just the primetime week for carved pumpkins, but also the time to get fresh and inexpensive butternut squash. A few days ago I had made a big pot of roasted butternut squash soup, but after 3 helpings I was kind of tired of more leftovers. So, I reinvented the rest into a brandnew meal: a vegan butternut squash alfredo sauce. It is so tasty even none-vegans will be delighted. Savory, rich, creamy with a slight hint of sweetness with maple syrup and the aroma of sage.

Note: Instead of the 1 1/2 cups of butternut squash soup you can also use simply roasted butternut squash.

Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta Alfredo

(Makes 2 larger servings)

Alfredo sauce:

• Base:
• 1 1/2 cup roasted butternut squash soup (or fresh roasted butternut squash)
• 3/4 cup hot water
• 1/3 cup soaked cashew nuts
• 1 TB nutritional yeast
• 1 1/2 TB mellow white miso, sodium reduced

• Rest of Alfredo sauce:
• 1 ts olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, quartered and thinly sliced using a mandoline
• 2 cloves garlic, microplaned
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 teaspoon fresh sage, thinly sliced
• 1/3 ts of grated nutmeg
• 1/2 TB maple syrup
• Several dashes fresh black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Pasta:

• 4 oz penne pasta, cooked al dente
• for garnish: fresh sage, pepitas or sunflower seeds, dried thyme

Pour all the ingredients for the sauce base into a food processor (best: Vitamix for extra smooth texture) and puree. In a pan, heat the olive oil, add the onions and saute until slightly brown. Add the garlic, and saute for about another 1 min. Add the white wine, and reduce for ca. 1 min. Now add the base butternut squash base cream, and gently stir in. Add the sage, nutmeg, and maple syrup, and simmer on medium-low for a few minutes until slightly reduced. Add salt and paper to taste.

Add in the cooked pasta, and stir until the pasta is coated, and heat through for about 1 min. Serve with fresh sage, roasted squash seeds (caramelized!) and some dry thyme. Enjoy!