Description
A rich and comforting vegetarian casserole featuring velvety pumpkin puree, earthy sage, and gooey melted cheese. This make-ahead friendly dish is perfect for dinner parties and feels elevated yet effortless to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ziti or penne pasta
- 15 ounces (425g) canned unsweetened pumpkin puree
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh sage leaves, chopped
- 2 cups (200g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (100g) Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Pasta water (reserved from cooking)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Chop sage, mince garlic, and grate cheeses. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.
- Add chopped sage and cook for 30 seconds.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in pumpkin puree and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add heavy cream and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in half of the Parmesan and half of the mozzarella until melted.
- Add drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Transfer pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Optionally broil for the last 2-3 minutes for extra crispiness.
- Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Do not overcook the pasta as it will continue to cook in the oven. Use fresh sage for the best flavor. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water. For a meat lover’s version, add cooked Italian sausage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: pumpkin sage baked ziti, vegetarian casserole, fall dinner party recipes, creamy pasta, make-ahead dinner, comfort food