- 4
Ingredients
- 4 SERVINGS
- 1 (2- to 2 1/4-lb) butternut squash with a long neck
- 2 cups water
- 1 (1 1/2- to 2-oz) bunch sage, stems discarded (1 1/4 cups packed leaves)
- 1 medium-large onion, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1 lb rotini or penne
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- ACCOMPANIMENT: grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Preparation
Step 1
Cut off neck of squash and reserve bulbous end, wrapped and chilled, for later use.
Peel neck and cut into roughly 1-inch cubes (3 1/2 to 4 cups; 1 lb).
Process in a food processor until very finely chopped.
Combine with water (2 cups) and 1/2 tsp salt in a heavy medium saucepan and briskly simmer, uncovered, stirring once or twice, until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
Chop 1 Tbsp sage. While squash is simmering, cook onion in olive oil with 1/4 tsp salt in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
Add garlic and chopped sage and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add squash and simmer, stirring, 2 minutes.
Stir in cheese and season with salt and pepper.
Cook rotini in a pasta pot of well-salted boiling water until al dente.
While pasta is cooking, pat sage leaves dry, if necessary, with paper towels.
Heat vegetable oil in an 8- to 9-inch skillet over high heat until it shimmers.
Test frying temperature by dipping tip of a leaf in oil. If it bubbles briskly, it's ready.
Add a small handful of leaves (they will make quite a commotion) and fry, stirring with a slotted spoon, until crisp but still green, 10 to 30 seconds.
Transfer to paper towels to drain and fry remaining leaves in 3 or 4 batches. Season with salt.
Reserve 1 cup pasta-cooking water, then drain pasta and add to sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until well coated, about 1 minute, thinning if necessary with some of reserved cooking water.
Transfer to a large bowl and serve fried sage leaves on the side (each person can top their own serving with the leaves).