The Canned Puree That Doubles As A Simple Pasta Sauce

Step aside canned pumpkin, it's time for a different gourd to have its moment: canned butternut squash. You can add seasonal flair to your dishes when bringing canned butternut squash into comfort classics. This lovable fruit can take hours to bake and soften in the oven, but the underrated canned version allows for optimal ease. That makes it a prime pantry good during the chilly times of year. A quick and delicious way to incorporate pureed butternut squash into your meals is by turning it into a creamy pasta sauce.

Yes, really. Skip the baking and set aside the immersion blender. Instead, sauté chopped garlic and shallots with olive oil on a pan at medium heat, pour in the canned butternut squash contents, then add salt and pepper to taste. When you're happy with the result, mix in one to four servings of cooked pasta. And just like that, you've got tasty pasta with a homemade feel whipped together in less than ten minutes.

If you'd like the pasta to be a bit more decadent, mix in ¼ to ½ cup of coconut milk, heavy cream, or Parmesan cheese. If you'd like to further bring out the nutty tasting notes stir in ¼ cup of chicken or vegetable broth (which can help highlight those deeper flavors), along with a dash of nutmeg. Plate the pasta with a sprinkle of fresh sage.

Autumn and winter are the time of year for comfort recipes galore, meaning that your canned butternut squash can be used for much more than pasta dishes. Soup is a clear choice, as it comes together very similarly to butternut squash pasta sauce since you can utilize many of the same ingredients. This includes canned butternut squash, garlic, shallots, salt, pepper, cream, and nutmeg.

To make the meal a bit more satiating (and extra tasty) pair the butternut squash soup with a delicious grilled cheese. Smear a little hot honey on your grilled cheese to add a tangy sweet heat to the meal. For a more buttery flavor swap out the usual sliced bread for a croissant for an extra flaky grilled cheese. Dip the toothsome sandwich in your warm and hearty soup for a mouth-watering comfort meal.

Similar to canned pumpkin, you can use canned butternut squash to make autumnal pastries like sweet loaves and pies. Feel free to experiment with the recipe, you can even try substituting cream in pie for a tastier ingredient if you're feeling adventurous or just want to mix it up a little more.