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Butternut Squash & Fall Tomato Marinara

This butternut squash marinara is the perfect way to use fall tomatoes. The butternut cuts the acidity, offering a sweeter, more delicate comfort dish that perfect served over fresh pasta. This dish can be made vegetarian or served with meatballs for a more hearty dish.
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

Butternut & Tomato Base

  • 1 Butternut Squash (Small or 1/2 large) Peeled & Cubed
  • 2 pounds Tomatoes
  • 3 Clove Garlic
  • 4 Sprigs Basil
  • 2 Sprigs Rosemary
  • 1 TBSP Avocado Oil
  • 1 TBSP Honey

Marinara

  • 1 Whole Onion Diced
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper Diced
  • 4 Celery Stalks Chopped
  • 3 Garlic Cloves Minced
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

For Depth of Flavor

  • 1 Cup Bold Red Wine
  • 3 TBSP Fresh Parmesan Cheese Grated
  • 1 Italian Sausage Link (Optional)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • MISE en PLACE: Cube & Peel Butternut, Peel Garlic & get press. Prepare onions, bell pepper and celery. Pull spices, oil & honey.
  • Add ingredients for Butternut and Tomato base to a glass casserole dish and place in the oven. (I use a glass Pyrex bowl as pictured.) Roast for 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and gently cut tomatoes open, allowing them to release their juice. Add more salt & pepper to taste and drizzle 1 tsp oil. Cook 30 more minutes.
  • At the 1 hour mark, stir, releasing all juice from the tomatoes.
  • For marinara, Add onion, red bell pepper, celery and garlic to stockpot and cook until softened. (About 10 minutes over medium heat.)
  • Add Butternut-Tomato base and use emulsion blender to break down into a sauce adding salt, pepper and paprika to taste. Your sauce is ready!
  • However, the longer the sauce simmers, the deeper the flavor. EXTRA STEP: Add 1/2 cup of wine, sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese and allow to simmer for 40 minutes. If you prefer a thicker sauce, simmer uncovered...if you prefer a sauce more thin, cover and simmer for 40 minutes. Salt to taste, then serve.
  • FOR DEEPEST DEPTH OF FLAVOR: Add 1/2 cup of wine and a cased sausage link, more Parmesan cheese and simmer for an hour.
  • Serve over fresh pasta.
Keyword Butternut Squash, buy local, Comfort Food, Farm Fresh, Farm to Fork, fresh pasta, Locally grown, Marinara, Rustic Food, spaghetti, Vegetarian
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