Ingredients:

  • 1kg a sweet Jap pumpkin (other sorts such as butternut will work too)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 250g dried penne pasta
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil and a tablespoon of butter
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely
  • I cup of pecan pieces gently broken into largish pieces – or whole if preferred
  • 1 large bunch of fresh sage – leaves removed for frying
  • ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan, plus extra to serve

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to about 210ºC if fan-forced) and roast in a single layer peeled and cubed pumpkin well coated in olive oil, salt and pepper (15-20 minutes).
  2. After removing the pumpkin and with the oven temp on low add the pecans and lightly roast (approx. 5 minutes).
  3. Meanwhile add penne to a saucepan of lightly salted boiling water and cook for approx. 10 to 12 minutes until al dente (slightly chewy to bite). Drain..
  4. While the pasta is cooking heat remaining oil and butter in frying pan and quickly fry whole sage leaves over a high heat for about 1 minute (remove) then lower the heat and gently fry garlic until softened.

 

Add sage and garlic to well drained pasta and stir through the roasted pumpkin and pecans. Gently fold through until all ingredients are well distributed. Serve in bowls sprinkled with grated parmesan if desired. It is also delicious without any parmesan.