This is a take on one of my absolute favorite recipes from my absolute favorite cook book, Vegetarian Planet by Didi Emmons, who, as it happens, is also a great fan of Jamaica Plain. In fact, JP gets several shout-outs in the book.
But anyway, this is a much toned down version of Didi's "Ziti with Acorn Squash and Roasted Garlic"- which if you have the time and the means on a cold winter night I highly suggest to try out. But for those nights when you are feeling like more of a 30 minute commitment to the stove rather than an hour and 30 minutes, this version is for you. I made it tonight and couldn't get the man to stop eating it- and I myself am already looking forward to lunchtime leftovers.
Ingredients:
1/2 lb- 3/4 lb pasta of your choice- although I suggest something big and not spagetti, like ziti, macaroni, farfalle, ect.
1 acorn squash, cleaned, peeled and chopped
8 cloves of garlic
1 onion, preferably vidalia or red, sliced thin
aprox. 1 tablespoons of sage
aprox. 1 tablespoon of thyme
olive oil
salt and pepper
5 oz feta
1/4 cup Romano cheese
1. Pre heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Clean out and peel the acorn squash and chop into small cubes- maybe a 1/2 inch to an inch in width. Combine in a roasting pan with onion, herbs and salt and pepper. Coat generously with olive oil and toss together. Let roast in the oven, tossing ever 10 minutes, for 30-35 minutes total or until squash starts to fall apart when moved.
3. At the same time put all 8 garlic cloves (with peels still on!) in a little tinfoil pouch covered in a bit of olive oil. Roast alongside squash.
3. Cook your pasta while all this is happening.
4. After squash is done, take the garlic cloves and squeeze the roasted garlic into a little bowl and discard peels. Add about a tablespoon of olive oil to the roasted garlic and mix it all together to form a paste.
5. In a big bowl toss together pasta, squash mixture, garlic paste, feta and the romano (leave a little for garnish!)
6. Eat while hot.
I forgot to take a picture, and honestly, it's not the most colorful of meals- but what it lacks in appearance it makes up for in taste bigtime!
Also, shout out to fellow crow Herself and her Mama who introduced me to Vegetarian Planet.
the man?
ReplyDeleteoh i remember very well the winter night we made the ziti dish for a dinner party. one of our earlier collaborations: tip from that night: make chocolate chip cookie dough in advance and rock everyone's world with fresh baked cookies at the end of he meal.
ReplyDeleteawesome tip! Will def. employ next time I get my hosetess on.
ReplyDeleteBut that would require miz Mo to post her Fabulous Chocolate Chip cookie recipe for me to copy!