I am obsessed with making pasta sauces for my toddler and I that contain nutrient-dense ingredients. I’ve come up with many pasta sauces including an avocado cauliflower sauce, kale sauce, broccoli sauce, etc. This sauce is my first sauce using any sort of squash, and it is one I will now be making all the time. You can taste the sweetness of the butternut squash, the yogurt adds a nice creaminess and tang, the garlic powder adds a good dose of savory flavor and the butter adds a nice richness. My favorite aspect of my pasta sauce recipes is that once the ingredient you are using to make the sauce is cooked, all you do is throw it in a blender with other tasty add-ins and it is done! Every time I have served this to my toddler she has gobbled it up. I hope you and your family love it as much as we do!
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Benefits
Butternut squash offers an incredible amount of fiber, which supports our digestive systems. It is also high in Vitamins C and A. Vitamin C helps support our immunity, helps us absorb iron and helps us regrow our tissues. Vitamin A supports our vision. All these benefits are important for adults of course, but are even more vital for our kiddos who are still growing and need to be getting as many vitamins as possible!
The sauce also contains a good amount of yogurt, which also is high in fiber, protein and calcium. It’s so good for us to include yogurt in our diet once a day!
For Littles
As said above, this sauce is incredibly nutrient-dense, so it’s a great meal to serve to your kiddos. This sauce will also introduce your little one to some delicious flavors. If you don’t want to mix this sauce in with pasta, you can mix it in with quinoa or rice. You can serve this to you little 7 months+!
This is Willow’s meal and I how I serve it to her:
How To
Preheat your oven to 425, prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper, cut the butternut squash in half, scoop out the guts and seeds, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil.
Place the squash halves facing down. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Scoop out the squash and place in a blender along with the yogurt, butter, garlic powder, salt, pepper and pasta water. Blend.
Combine with cooked pasta. Enjoy warm!
Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
Course: Dinner, Fall, For Toddlers, Healthy, Main Dishes, Recipes, Winter4
servings20
minutes1
hourIngredients
1 butternut squash
Pinch of salt and pepper (this is for the roasting of the butternut squash
2 teaspoons olive oil (also for the roasting of the squash)
1/2 cup yogurt
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/3-1/2 cup pasta water
Directions
- Roasting of the squash
- Preheat your oven to 425 and prepare a parchment covered baking sheet. Set aside.
- On a large cutting board, cut the butternut squash in half using a large knife. Go slowly, making sure you get an even cut in the middle. It helps if you sharpen your knife beforehand!
- Using a spoon, scoop out the guts and seeds out of the deeper part of the squash. Discard the guts and seeds.
- Brush some olive oil and sprinkle some salt and pepper onto the insides of each half of the squash.
- Face the insides of the squash down onto the baking sheet so the skin side is up. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the skin is soft and the squash is completely cooked (the squash should be giving when you poke a fork in it).
- Let the squash cool for a couple minutes. While the squash is cooling, start boiling some water for the pasta. Make sure you generously salt the water so that the pasta when done is nice and seasoned. Cook your pasta to your liking, saving 1/2 cup of pasta water before your drain.
- Make the sauce
- After the squash has cooled slightly, scoop out flesh of the squash and throw it into a blender along with the yogurt, butter, garlic powder, salt, pepper and 1/3 cup pasta water. Blend until you have a smooth sauce. Add more of the pasta water as needed.
- Mix the sauce in with the cooked pasta. Top with some Parmesan cheese and serve! You can store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Enjoy!:)
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