I’ve mentioned this before, but while most prefer to bake with pumpkin, I actually love to cook with it! It’s so versatile and adds warmth, sweetness, and richness to savory dishes. I love mixing it in soups and chili and incorporating it into a creamy pasta sauce. With my family’s love of my classic pasta alla vodka recipe, I knew a pumpkin pasta alla vodka recipe would go over well, so I was excited to create it.
Right away, I knew that pumpkin, along with some sage and spicy Calabrian chili paste, would be delicious mixed into my classic alla vodka recipe. I also used some extra parmesan in this alla vodka because I adore the flavors of sweet pumpkin and the rich, nutty flavor of parmesan. It’s the perfect fall pairing that’s so underrated. I’ve decided that while some people are great at pairing food with wine, I’m pretty good at pairing cheeses with pasta!
Let’s Get Into the Details
Ingredients
olive oil shallots garlic fresh sage dried oregano Calabrian chili paste chili flakes tomato paste canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie) vodka (or use water with 1 tablespoon apple vinegar) heavy cream pasta, I used rigatoni (BUT you could use a cute pumpkin pasta) salted butter parmesan cheese
Special Tools None. You just need a skillet with sides and a pot to cook the pasta in.
Step 1: make the pumpkin vodka sauce Cook the shallot, garlic, fresh sage, and dried oregano in olive oil until the shallot softens. Now add the Calabrian chili paste. I like to use 2 rounded tablespoons. However, if you’re sensitive to spice, use 1 tablespoon. For even more spice, add a pinch of chili flakes to the chili pasta. Then, add the tomato paste and the pumpkin. Cook this mix until thickened.
Step 2: add the vodka, mix in the cream Mix in the Vodka and allow it to cook into the pumpkin sauce. If you don’t like to cook with alcohol, use 1/4 cup water with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Mix in the cream, then season the sauce with salt and pepper.
Step 3: boil the pasta Cook the pasta. Use any shortcut pasta you love. I use rigatoni, but if I had access to Trader Joe’s, I would use their dried pumpkin-shaped pasta. So cute! Save some pasta water before draining, then drain.
Step 4: mix in the pasta Now add the pasta, the parmesan, and some of the pasta cooking water to the sauce. Cook the sage leaves in butter and serve the sage butter over the pasta with even more Parmesan! So yummy!
The sauce is creamy, with warming notes of pumpkin and sage and nuttiness from the parmesan. It’s my favorite combo. Perfect for chillier nights or when you need to throw together a quick dinner!
Looking for other simple winter pasta dishes? Here are my favorites: Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka 4 Cheese Sage Pesto Florentine Lasagna One Pot Spicy Pesto Cheese Baked Rigatoni One-Pan Cheesy Spaghetti Pie Lastly, if you make this Pumpkin Pasta Alla Vodka, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
