Mushroom Ravioli and Squash, easy entertaining

Heat and eat with a mushroom ravioli, cooked squash and a sage-infused brown butter. Even squash naysayers will be tempted by this restaurant-quality vegetarian meal. Use frozen squash or canned pumpkin and this meal is ready in less than 30-minutes!

As fall approaches, gardening is coming to an end, but I intend to enjoy these flavors for as long as I can. I’m in packrat mode as I squirrel away the remains of the day. I’ve made tomato jam, plum jam, and peach ice cream. I’ve dehydrated apples and herbs. I’ve frozen corn, tomatoes, chiles, and squash.

Mushroom Ravioli and Squash with Sage Butter

Wanting the flavors of Italy without the work, I developed this simplified version of heat and eat with a packaged of refrigerated mushroom ravioli topped with cooked squash and a sage-infused brown butter. Flavoring butter is so simple. As you melt butter in a pan over low heat, add herbs. Simple, right? Even squash naysayers will be satisfied by this flavorful meal. It’s restaurant quality. It’s so good I’ve served it for Christmas Eve dinner.

With a busy life, the freezer is your friend. That frozen squash makes dinner quick and delicious, even for holidays. But you can also use canned pumpkin instead of the squash.

The ingredients

• 2 cups diced squash, Acorn, Butternut, Hubbard, Kabocha or canned pumpkin (precut, frozen, or canned)
• 1 package mushroom ravioli (cheese ravioli is a fine substitute)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup pasta water
• pinch nutmeg
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 12 sage leaves
• Parmesan cheese

1. Use precut squash or see notes below on cooking a whole squash.
2. Cook ravioli according to package directions. Drain, but keep back some water.
3. Add defrosted squash, purchased squash or canned pumpkin to a saucepan; heat slowly, stirring, over medium-low heat. Add pasta water to thin. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and nutmeg. Cook until heated through and thick.
4. In a small skillet, melt butter over low heat. Add whole sage leaves. Cook butter and sage, stirring occasionally until butter begins to brown, 4-5 minutes. Watch closely as the can quickly go from brown (nutty) to black (burnt). Sage leaves will crisp as they cook.
5. When ready to serve, place cooked pasta in servings bowls, topped with squash. Drizzle 1-2 teaspoons browned butter over squash. Top with fried sage leaves. Sprinkle with cheese.

mushroom ravioli, squash and browned sage butter

Roasted winter squash

kabocha squash

Squash plants seem to grow with leftovers in mind, either as a prolific plant or the size of the vegetables. Winter squash are the harder varieties such as Butternut, Hubbard, Kabocha, Buttercrisp and Acorn. Roasted winter squash can be served as a side dish, then tossed in tomorrow’s salad, stirred into pasta with a spoonful of ricotta, or pureed for soup, such as Thai Squash soup.

toss roasted squash cubes in a salad

How to cook squash

Cook the squash by placing the whole squash on a baking sheet in a 375°F oven. Cook 60 minutes or until squash is soft and the sides buckle. Remove from oven, allow to cool. Cut squash, peel off skin, remove seeds.

Baked Buttercup Squash

Or trim the skin, cut into cubes, toss with canola or olive oil. Heat baking sheet and oven to 400°F. Pour squash on hot pan, smooth into a single layer and separate the cubes (you don’t want to pan too full), sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes, stir, cook 10-15 minutes more, until squash is tender.

How to freeze squash

labeled frozen squash

Cooked squash freezes well. Scoop the pulp into freezer-safe containers and remove as much air as possible. Pack in freezer container, leaving ½-inch headspace. Seal and freeze. Find specifics on preserving food at the National Center for Home Food Preservation. Thaw before cooking.

Soul Food

Instead, I think this pasta dish is the ticket. Italian food feeds my soul. I love fresh pumpkin tortelloni and ravioli with sage and butter. Especially when someone else makes those little pasta packages.

**Check out other LiveBest squash recipes.

Cook’s Tip

To freeze herbs, you can just rinse, dry, and freeze. But blanching them in boiling water for just a few seconds before freezing helps retain color and flavor. If you wrap the herbs in paper towels or waxed paper before freezing, they’ll be easier to separate when you want to use them.

MORE Mediterranean diet recipes

• Nicoise Salad
• Pan-seared Salmon and Caramelized Grapes
• Mediterranean Power Bowl
• Honey Lemon Panna Cotta

P.S. If you like this recipe, you may want more healthy eating tips and recipes. Sign up for my newsletter here.

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Mushroom Ravioli, Squash and Browned Sage Butter

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Heat and eat with a refrigerated mushroom ravioli, cooked squash and a sage-infused brown butter. Even squash naysayers will be tempted by this restaurant quality meal.

• Author: Judy Barbe
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 90 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Cuisine: Italian, American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups diced squash, Acorn, Butternut, Hubbard, Kabocha or canned pumpkin (precut, frozen, or canned)
• 1 package mushroom ravioli (cheese ravioli is a fine substitute)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup pasta water
• pinch nutmeg
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 12 sage leaves
• Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

1. Cook the squash by placing the whole squash on a silicon-lined baking sheet in a 375°F oven. Cook 60 minutes or until squash is soft and the sides buckle. Remove from oven, allow to cool.
2. Cut squash, peel off skin, remove seeds. Scoop the pulp into freezer-safe containers and remove as much air as possible. Thaw before cooking.
3. Cook ravioli according to package directions. Drain, but keep back some water.
4. Add defrosted squash, purchased squash or canned pumpkin to a saucepan; heat slowly, stirring, over medium-low heat. Add pasta water to thin. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and nutmeg. Cook until heated through and thick.
5. In a small skillet, melt butter over low heat. Add whole sage leaves. Cook butter and sage, stirring occasionally until butter begins to brown, 4-5 minutes. Watch closely as it can quickly go from brown (nutty) to black (burnt).
6. When ready to serve, place cooked pasta in servings bowls, topped with squash. Drizzle 1-2 teaspoons browned butter over squash. Top with fried sage leaves. Sprinkle with cheese.

Notes

Cooking time reflects baking a whole squash. Save time by buying frozen cooked squash or use canned pumpkin.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: half the recipe
• Calories: 430