Pumpkin pasta sauce is a rich, creamy, and quick addition to your favorite noodles of all kinds! Smoky, spicy, rich, and unbelievably smooth this sauce comes together into one big, mouthwatering, explosion of tastebud ecstasy. This Pumpkin Alfredo tastes like autumn on a plate!
1PoundFettuccinecooked - whole wheat works well here
⅔cupbutter
4garlic clovesminced
1chipotle in adobo saucemashed
1cupheavy cream
⅓cupParmigiano Reggianograted. You'll also need some for sprinkling on top of the finished dish
⅓cupRomanograted
1 ½cupspumpkin puree
pinchnutmeg
1cuppasta waterabout, reserved from cooking the pasta
Salt and pepper to taste
¼cupcilantrochopped, for garnish (optional)
⅓ cupCojita cheesecrumbled, for garnish, optional
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package instructions.
Drain, reserving 1-2 cups of the water.
Melt the butter in a large pan.
Add the garlic and chipotle, saute for 1 minute, do not brown.
Add the cream, cheese, pumpkin, and nutmeg.
Stir until smooth.
Add enough of the hot pasta water to get a smooth, creamy sauce.
Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
Add the pasta to the pan and heat for a minute or two.
Serve garnished with crumbled cojita cheese and chopped cilantro.
Notes
*Make sure your pasta is cooking or cooked when you start this sauce. *This sauce does NOT reheat well. *Add leftover cooked turkey -- it's a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers!
Get your salted water for your pasta started BEFORE starting this sauce! It goes together quickly but it doesn't hold for a long time and you don't want to warm it back up - like any good Alfredo it breaks when reheated.
Do not substitute lower fat ingredients in this recipe - Alfredo sauce is supposed to be rich and creamy. Diet tomorrow.
Gently warm the cream to room temperature before adding to the melted butter. To do this you can microwave, carefully watching it, OR put a glass measuring cup with the cream in it into a bowl of very hot water for 10-15 minutes.
Be careful not to scorch anything. Use medium low heat and whisk whisk, whisk!
If you've had problems with getting Alfredo sauce recipes to thicken don't worry. The pumpkin helps create a thick, creamy Alfredo sauce!
This is a GREAT way to sneak turkey leftovers from Thanksgiving into your menu rotation!
Reheating can make it separate. If you are reheating leftovers be sure that the sauce is mixed with pasta.