Recipe for Vegetarian Penne Pasta with Butternut Squash, Mushrooms, Scallions, and Goat Cheese Recipe
This delicious Vegetarian Penne Pasta with Butternut Squash, Mushrooms, Scallions, and Goat Cheese has just enough goat cheese to add an interesting flavor boost.
I've already confessed to being a butternut squash addict, and I'm always craving it at this time of year. And even though I wrote a post about How to Peel and Cut Up a Butternut Squash, sometimes I can't resist those package of pre-cut butternut squash that show up at Costco every fall. This delicious Vegetarian Penne Pasta with Butternut Squash, Mushrooms, Scallions, and Goat Cheese is a recipe I came up with that used half a two-pound package of pre-cut squash with some brown Crimini Mushrooms, a generous amount of chopped scallions, and just enough goat cheese to keep it interesting. You can use Feta if you're not a fan of the more pungent goat cheese, and some people might like to add some freshly grated Parmesan at the table. This recipe does have a few steps, but it's quick enough for an easy week-night dinner, and perfect for Meatless Monday.
(If you're a Meatless Monday fan, you can find more meatless recipes by clicking the label Meatless Monday anywhere you see it on the blog, and you also might like to see my Meatless Monday Pinterest Board, where there are meatless recipes by food bloggers from all over the web. I also write a weekly Meatless Monday post for BlogHer.com, where I spotlight meatless dishes from Kalyn's Kitchen and other blogs.) Wash mushrooms and cut into thick slices. I pulled out the larger stems and cut them in half. (If you're cutting up a whole squash rather than starting with precut cubes, I would do that first, before you start to cook the mushrooms.)
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat, add the mushrooms, and saute until they're nicely browned, about 6-8 minutes.
While the mushrooms cook, measure out 2 cups of penne (or other similar pasta shape) and start the pasta water boiling, with a generous amount of salt in the water.) I used Dreamfields Penne, which is a great low-carb pasta choice.
Cut the butternut squash into smallish cubes, about 3/4 inches across. (I cut most of the pre-cut squash pieces in half, but cut the larger ones into fourths.)
As soon as the mushrooms are done, remove them to a bowl, add another tablespoon of olive oil, and saute the squash over medium to medium-high heat until the squash is softened and nicely browned. Season squash with about 1/2 tsp. Vege-Sal (or salt) and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper while it cooks. Add the pasta to the boiling water when you start cooking the squash.
While the squash cooks, slice the green onions and measure about 2 ounces of goat cheese.
When the butternut squash is nicely browned and cooked through, turn heat to low and put mushrooms back into the pan to warm.
When pasta is done (10 minutes), scoop out 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water and drain pasta into a colander placed in the sink.
Put drained pasta back into the pot you cooked it in and stir in the goat cheese and let it melt.
Then gently stir the cheese-coated pasta into the browned butternut squash and mushrooms in the frying pan.
Gently stir in the scallions and serve hot, with Parmesan cheese to add at the table if desired.
Vegetarian Penne Pasta with Butternut Squash, Mushrooms, Scallions, and Goat Cheese
(Makes 4-6 servings; recipe created by Kalyn.)
Ingredients:
8 oz. brown Crimini Mushrooms (also called Baby Bellas or Baby Portobellas)
1 T + 1 T olive oil 1 lb butternut squash, cut into pieces about 3/4 inches square (they don't all need to be the same size and shape)
1/2 tsp. Vege-Sal or salt plus freshly ground black pepper to taste, to season the squash as it cooks
2 cups Penne or other similar pasta shape (I used Dreamfields Penne, which is a low-carb pasta) 1/2 cup diagonal sliced scallions (green onions), green part only
generous amount salt for pasta cooking water, at least 1 tsp. (The pasta doesn't absorb all that salt, but it will taste flat without it.)
2 oz. goat cheese, or slightly more (You can use Feta if you're not a fan of the more pungent goat cheese.)
freshly-grated Parmesan for serving, optional
Instructions:
(If you're cutting up a whole squash rather than starting with pre-cut cubes, I would do that first, before you start to cook the mushrooms. Here is How to Peel and Cut Up a Butternut Squash for anyone who hasn't done it.)
Wash the mushrooms and cut into thick slices. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat, add mushrooms, and saute until they're nicely browned, about 6-8 minutes. While mushrooms cook start the pasta water boiling. adding a generous amount of salt, and measure out 2 cups of pasta. Cut the butternut squash into cubes about 3/4 inches square or slightly larger. When the mushrooms are nicely browned, remove them to a bowl. Add the other tablespoon of olive oil and when it's hot add the butternut squash and cook, turning every few minutes, until the squash is nicely browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Season squash with the Vege-Sal (or salt) and freshly ground black pepper as it cooks. (Depending on how hot your stove is, you may need to turn the heat to medium.) Add the pasta to the boiling water when you start cooking the squash. Cook pasta 10 minutes from the time it comes to a boil.
While the squash cooks, diagonally slice the scallions and measure out 2 oz. goat cheese. When the squash is browned and cooked through, add the mushrooms back into the frying pan, along with any accumulate liquid. Turn heat to low to keep it warm without cooking more.
When the pasta is cooked to al-dente (still slightly chewy), scoop out 1/2 cup pasta cooking water and then drain pasta into a colander placed in the sink. Put drained pasta back into the pot you cooked it in, stir in the goat cheese, and let it melt for about a minute. When cheese is melted, gently stir the cheese-coated pasta into the squash and mushrooms. Gently stir in sliced scallions and serve hot, with Parmesan cheese to add at the table if desired.
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South Beach Suggestions:
Obviously this dish is limited to Phase 2 or 3 for the South Beach Diet, and it's important to use low-carb or whole wheat pasta for South Beach. If you're actively trying to lose weight on Phase 2, I would eat a very small serving of this as part of a meal with other low-glycemic vegetables or proteins. Nutritional Information? I chose the South Beach Diet to manage my weight partly so I wouldn't have to count calories, carbs, points, or fat grams, but if you want nutritional information for a recipe, I recommend entering the recipe into Calorie Count, which will calculate it for you. More Delicious Vegetarian Ideas with Butternut Squash:
(Recipes from other blogs not always South Beach Diet friendly; check ingredients.)
Ten Easy and Amazing Vegetarian Recipes Using Butternut Squash ~ Kalyn's Kitchen
Vegetarian Butternut Squash Carbonara ~ Eats Well with Others Spicy Butternut Squash Soup with Black Beans, Red Bell Pepper, and Cilantro ~ Kalyn's Kitchen
Penne with Butternut Squash and Kale ~ Oh My Veggies
Slow Cooker Thai-Inspired Butternut Squash and Peanut Soup with Red Bell Pepper, Lime, and Cilantro - Kalyn's Kitchen
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