Anna Burn-Francis' Pumpkin Pasta with Crispy Amaretti and Pancetta Crumbs

, from Issue #108. March, 2023
    Anna Burn-Francis' Pumpkin Pasta with Crispy Amaretti and Pancetta Crumbs

    Anna is a woman after my own heart loving everything Italian, and this pasta recipe embraces simple and delicious flavours that I hope also appeal to her family and friends.

    Serves: 4

    INGREDIENTS

    Pumpkin Sauce:
    1½ kilograms crown pumpkin, peeled and seeded
    olive oil
    sea salt and ground pepper
    1 tablespoon olive oil
    2 tablespoons tomato purée
    3 cloves garlic, crushed
    1 teaspoon chilli flakes
    1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
    1 cup cream

    To Serve:
    400 grams lasagne sheets, cut into 6cm-wide long strips
    50 grams amaretti cookies
    80 grams pancetta, cooked until crisp
    12-16 large sage leaves cooked in a little olive oil until crisp 

    METHOD

    Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake.

    Cut the pumpkin into 2cm chunks and place on a large baking tray. Toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until just tender, about 20 minutes. 

    Put half the roasted pumpkin in a food processor along with the tomato purée, garlic, chilli, nutmeg and cream and season generously with salt and pepper. Blend briefly until smooth then tip into a large pot, cover and set aside.  

    Cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water until al dente then drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. 

    Reheat the sauce and if it is very thick, stir in just enough of the reserved water so it will coat the pasta. Add the pasta and remaining roasted pumpkin to the hot sauce and gently turn to combine.

    Divide between warm plates and crumble over the amaretti and pancetta then top with the sage leaves

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