Butternut Squash & Orecchiette with Kale & Brown Butter Walnuts

Step 1

1 Prepare & roast the squash Place an oven rack in the center of the oven, then preheat to 450°F. Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Line a sheet pan with foil. Place the squash and half the whole rosemary sprigs on the foil. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Arrange in an even layer. Roast, carefully stirring halfway through, 21 to 23 minutes, or until the squash is browned and tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven. Carefully remove and discard the rosemary sprigs.

Step 2

2 Prepare the remaining ingredients Meanwhile, roughly chop the walnuts. Pick the remaining rosemary leaves off the stems; discard the stems, then roughly chop the leaves. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Separate the kale leaves from the stems; discard the stems, then roughly chop the leaves.

Step 3

3 Cook the pasta Add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to prevent sticking.

Step 4

4 Make the brown butter walnuts Meanwhile, in a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat half the butter on medium-high until melted. Once melted, cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the butter is lightly browned. Add the chopped walnuts and chopped rosemary. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the foam subsides and the butter is fragrant (it should smell nutty and toasted). Transfer to a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Wipe out the pan.

Step 5

5 Cook the kale In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the capers and chopped garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until slightly softened. Add the chopped kale and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the kale is slightly wilted. Add the verjus (carefully, as the liquid may splatter) and 1/4 cup of water. Cook, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the kale is wilted and the liquid has cooked off. Turn off the heat.

Step 6

6 Finish the pasta & serve your dish To the pan of cooked kale, add the roasted squash, cooked pasta, remaining butter, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring gently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Turn off the heat and stir in the crème fraîche until combined. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished pasta topped with the brown butter walnuts. Garnish with the cheese. Enjoy!

Step 7

1 Prepare & roast the squash Place an oven rack in the center of the oven, then preheat to 450°F. Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Line a sheet pan with foil. Place the squash and half the whole rosemary sprigs on the foil. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Arrange in an even layer. Roast, carefully stirring halfway through, 21 to 23 minutes, or until the squash is browned and tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven. Carefully remove and discard the rosemary sprigs.

Step 8

2 Prepare the remaining ingredients Meanwhile, roughly chop the walnuts. Pick the remaining rosemary leaves off the stems; discard the stems, then roughly chop the leaves. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Separate the kale leaves from the stems; discard the stems, then roughly chop the leaves.

Step 9

3 Cook the pasta Add the pasta to the pot of boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, or until al dente (still slightly firm to the bite). Reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to prevent sticking.

Step 10

4 Make the brown butter walnuts Meanwhile, in a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat half the butter on medium-high until melted. Once melted, cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the butter is lightly browned. Add the chopped walnuts and chopped rosemary. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the foam subsides and the butter is fragrant (it should smell nutty and toasted). Transfer to a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Wipe out the pan.

Step 11

5 Cook the kale In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the capers and chopped garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until slightly softened. Add the chopped kale and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the kale is slightly wilted. Add the verjus (carefully, as the liquid may splatter) and 1/4 cup of water. Cook, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the kale is wilted and the liquid has cooked off. Turn off the heat.

Step 12

6 Finish the pasta & serve your dish To the pan of cooked kale, add the roasted squash, cooked pasta, remaining butter, and half the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook on medium-high, stirring gently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until the pasta is coated (if necessary, gradually add the remaining cooking water to ensure the pasta is thoroughly coated). Turn off the heat and stir in the crème fraîche until combined. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished pasta topped with the brown butter walnuts. Garnish with the cheese. Enjoy!