Pasta Bake with Pumpkin Tomato Sauce

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add pasta and cook until 2 minutes SHY of al dente. (The pasta should still be firm, though tender enough to bite through.) Drain the pasta into a strainer and set aside.

Step 2

Meanwhile, melt butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the walnuts and 1 Tbsp. sage; cook 5 minutes, until the walnuts are toasted and aromatic. Season with a pinch of salt (~1/8 tsp.), and transfer mixture to a bowl.

Step 3

Place pan back on the burner and increase heat to medium-high. Add olive oil, along with mushrooms and onion. Cook for 8 minutes, or until soft.

Step 4

Stir in tomato paste, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until the tomato paste turns brick red and begins sticking to the pan. Gradually add spinach, stirring continuously until greens wilt down. Stir in oregano, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and remaining 2 tsp. fresh sage.

Step 5

Add vegetable broth, stirring to release any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Stir in pumpkin puree, Parmesan (or Pecorino), and 1/2 cup fontina cheese; continue stirring until the fontina melts and the sauce is smooth. Add pasta and stir until all noodles are well-coated in sauce.

Step 6

Transfer mixture to a 13x9-inch greased baking dish. Sprinkle remaining fontina cheese overtop, along with buttery walnut-sage mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and continue baking 7 to 10 more minutes, until cheese is completely melted and golden. Garnish with additional Parmesan (or Pecorino), if desired, before serving.