Fall is upon us and you know what that means…winter squash is abundant!

A Gluten and Dairy Free Squash Pasta 

And what better way to spruce up a pasta than with squash? Don’t you love an el dente pasta with a creamy sauce? Well guess what? This dish has all the pasta-ness that you love as well as the creaminess yet it’s gluten-free and dairy-free. All you do is switch out regular durum wheat pasta with brown rice pasta and leave out the cream because the squash is creamy enough!

Here are a few tricks for making it the pasta and cream lover’s fave new dish:

Here’s what you’ll need aka ingredients:

  • Brown rice pasta (this recipe uses Fussilli—the twirly noodle that looks like a screw—but you can use any shape you like)
  • Kabocha Squash (this recipe uses Kabocha ‘cos it’s super flavorful and has a very bright orange color, which looks great but you can use any of the squash listed below)
  • Sage (sage is a herb that goes really well with squash but you can use oregano or thyme or rosemary if you prefer)
  • Butter/ghee/coconut oil/olive oil (If you want to go 100% dairy-free then use coconut oil or olive oil. If you want to just be lactose free then use ghee and if you don’t mind a bit of dairy then go with butter)
  • Salt and pepper (and add a sprinkling of red hot chili pepper if you want to)

Instructions:

(Serves 4 small helpings or 2-3 large helpings)

  • Cut the squash into small cubes so you fill about 2 or 3 cups depending on how squash-y you like it
  • Cover a large pot with about an inch of water and bring to a boil. Add the squash in and cover with a lid. Let cook for about five minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • In the meantime, boil the pasta water and once it’s boiling add the entire packet/box of brown rice pasta and cook for the duration listed on the packaging.
  • Remove the lid from the squash pot/pan and stir the squash cubes. Once the water has boiled away and the squash is firm to the touch add a dollop of butter or ghee or a tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil.
  • Throw in your sage (about a tablespoon) or other herbs and lightly stir so that the herbs cover all the squash cubes.
  • Once the pasta is ready, remove from the stove and drain the water.
  • Remove the squash from the stove and scoop them into the pasta and lightly stir.
  • Sprinkle with salt and pepper and chili if you like the heat

Why the orange color?

FYI some people totally ignore squash in the grocery produce section because they think of squash as a starchy high-carb veg but truth be told squash, which is actually technically a fruit, has an amazing amount of vitamins and minerals including carotenoids, which is what give it its bright orange color and have amazing anti-oxidant properties.

Why is squash healthy?

Most winter squash have 12 different carotenoids including beta-carotene, which gets converted in the body to Vitamin A, which is why winter squash has a whopping 60% of this vitamin. Squash also has 26% Vitamin C; 21% fiber; Vitamin B6; manganese; copper; Vitamin B2 and B3; folate; pantothenic acid; Vitamin K; potassium and magnesium! Who knew, right?

Why the word ‘winter’?

Just remember that the name ‘winter’ squash isn’t entirely accurate because it’s not grown, harvested or eaten only in the winter. But it does have a very long growing season of 90-120 days. So even if it’s planted in the spring, it won’t get harvested until the fall. An amazing thing about winter squash too is that because of its hard, protective skins, these squash can store in your home in a cool place for many months before you eat them.

How to make a squash seed snack:

Another amazing thing about squash is its seeds, which contain high amounts of Vitamin E and make an amazing, healthy snack. Once you’ve scooped them out of the squash, washed and dried them with a paper towel, you can spread them onto a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil or coconut oil and salt and roast on 300 degrees for about 20 minutes. Yum!

Here’s a list of squash varieties you can choose from for this recipe or others:

  • Butternut
  • Kabocha / /Red Kabocha
  • Buttercup
  • Blue Hubbard
  • Spaghetti
  • Acorn
  • Delicata


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Health Coach Institute and Become a Health Coach

Coaching is a great career that you can help others, while also learning how to help your own personal growth. Health Coach Institute is a top health and wellness coaching certification program. Join our Become a Health Coach program and begin coaching in 6 months! If you are already a coach and want to advance your skills, check out HCI’s Coach Mastery program. Feel free to get in touch with with one of our clarity coaches directly, by calling 1-800-303-2399.

By:

Health Coach Institute provides aspiring Health and Life Coaches with the tools, training, and support to make a great living transforming lives.