Description
Creamy orzo pasta combined with caramelized roasted butternut squash, fresh sage, and kale in a comforting one-pot autumn dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 large butternut squash (approximately 2 lbs/1 kg)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 10 fresh sage leaves (or 0.5 tsp dried sage), divided
- 500g/2.5 cups orzo pasta
- 1 liter + 250ml/5 cups vegetable stock, plus extra if needed
- 100g/1 cup kale, chopped (cavolo nero preferred)
- 50g/3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200C/400F. Peel, de-seed and cut butternut squash into bite-sized cubes. Season with salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Arrange on shallow pan, scatter 4-5 sage leaves throughout and roast for 45 minutes until golden.
- 20 minutes before squash finishes, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in deep pan. Sauté chopped shallots, garlic and remaining minced sage leaves over low heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
- Add vegetable stock, salt and kale to pan, bring to boil. Add orzo and cook according to package instructions for 7-8 minutes until tender but al dente. Stir throughout cooking to release starch and prevent sticking.
- If mixture looks thick, add 1/2 cup vegetable stock or water for creamy consistency. Remove from heat, stir in Parmesan cheese, adjust salt to taste, and top with roasted butternut squash.
Notes
- Cut butternut squash into uniform pieces to ensure even roasting
- Stir orzo frequently during cooking to release starches for creamy texture
- Keep extra warm vegetable stock nearby to adjust consistency
- Grate Parmesan cheese fresh for better melting and flavor
- Butternut squash can be roasted up to 2 days ahead
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting and Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (6 servings total)
Keywords: butternut squash orzo, autumn pasta recipes, one pot orzo, roasted squash pasta, vegetarian orzo dishes, creamy orzo recipe, fall comfort food, sage pasta