Name: Brown Butter Pumpkin Pasta with Sage
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 ounces pasta; 5 tablespoons unsalted butter; 8 fresh sage leaves; 4 cloves garlic; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 cup pumpkin purée; 1 cup heavy cream; 0.25 tsp nutmeg; 0.25 tsp red chilli pepper flakes; 0.5 tsp salt; 0.25 tsp ground black pepper; 0.5 cup parmesan cheese; 0.25 cup pasta water

Brown Butter Pumpkin Pasta with Sage cover

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Brown Butter Pumpkin Pasta with Sage

Browndis

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water, then drain.

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add sage leaves and cook until crispy, about 2 minutes. Remove half eaves for garnish, leaving the rest in the pan.

Stir in garlic and cook for 30 secs until fragrant. They will quickly burn!

Whisk in tomato paste and pumpkin purée. Cook 2–3 minutes to deepen flavor.

Pour in heavy cream, nutmeg, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened.

Add parmesan and pasta water, whisking until sauce is silky.

Tuen off the stove and toss pasta into the sauce until coated. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Garnish with reserved crispy sage leaves and extra parmesan before serving.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Master the Brown Butter Stage 🧈
Cook butter over medium heat until it turns golden-brown with a nutty aroma (3-4 minutes), watching carefully to avoid burning—this is the flavor foundation that elevates the entire dish.
Toast Your Sage Leaves Separately 🍂
Crisp fresh sage in the brown butter for 30-60 seconds before removing, then reserve as a garnish to maintain their textural contrast and vibrant color against the creamy sauce.
Temper the Pumpkin Purée 🎃
Warm pumpkin purée gently in the brown butter before adding cream to prevent lumps and ensure a silky, unified sauce that coats the pasta beautifully.
Use Pasta Water as Your Secret Weapon 💧
Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water and add it gradually to achieve the perfect sauce consistency—it emulsifies the cream and helps the sauce cling to each strand of pasta.
Bloom Your Spices in the Brown Butter 🌰
Toast nutmeg and red chili flakes in the hot brown butter for 15-20 seconds before adding other ingredients to release their essential oils and deepen their warming flavors.