This Creamy Pumpkin Chorizo Rigatoni is so creamy, so comforting and so delicious! Calling all creamy pasta lovers because this recipe has your name on it. It’s such a juxtaposition because it’s creamy yet not heavy, flavourful bites yet overall subtle, chunky yet smooth. It’s that pop of colour and burst of flavour that will brighten up your day, night and mood.
What’s so good about this Pasta recipe?
So a lot of people still believe that pasta has to include cream and cheese and all around be very heavy. Now don’t get me wrong, I love pasta, the creamier and cheesier the better but sometimes a lighter pasta can be just as good. I’ve had to cut back on dairy lately so I’m working more with non dairy options. There are quite a few options out there to give you that creamy rich texture that you would get from your traditional cream based pasta.
How to make Creamy Pumpkin Chorizo Rigatoni?
First let’s get all your key ingredients. Of course you start with pumpkin. The pumpkin gives an earthy flavour and such a bold colour. It provides the much needed body to the sauce. Coconut Milk is the perfect substitute to dairy because it’s rich, has that nutty flavour and marries well with most things you’ll add to it. Just imagine the rich orange pumpkin colour mixing with the white creamy coconut milk.
Chorizo sausage links plays a major role because this is where your flavour will mostly come from. Savoury, spicy, yummy bites that kicks up the overall pasta recipe a thousand notches. All brand chorizos are not created equal so my advice is to work with your favourite Brand. I used Caribbean Passion Chorizo Sausage but if you have a favorite brand then you start this recipe already knowing you’ll love it.
The last but not least key ingredient is the pasta itself. Most of us typically have your standard pasta in our kitchen such as spaghetti, macaroni and probably penne. This time you want to look for Rigatoni which is a thicker tube type of pasta that’s actually very filling. This will just absorb so much of that delicious pumpkin chorizo sauce.
This recipe is well rounded. Its great for one person because it serves well as meal prep. It’s also a good way to elevate a meal if you’re thinking of a date night at home. Its really great for the family and one of the best ways to get the children to have their pumpkin. Sounds like a win win to me.
So let’s get cooking!
Creamy Pumpkin Chorizo Rigatoni
Course: EntréeDifficulty: Moderate4
servings20
minutes45
minutesIngredients
3-4 cups Pumpkin Puree
1 cup Coconut Milk (Pantry Item)
2 Chorizo Sausage links
3 cups dry Rigatoni Pasta
1/2 tsp. Salt (Pantry Item)
1/4 tsp. Black Pepper (Pantry Item)
1 small onion diced (Pantry Item)
1 tsp minced garlic (Pantry Item)
1/2 tsp Paprika (Pantry Item)
1/4 tsp. Sage (Pantry Item)
1/4 tsp. Basil (Pantry Item)
1 tbsp. Vegetable oil (Pantry Item)
2 tsp. sugar
Red pepper flakes
Directions
- Bring water and salt to boil in a large pot. Wash, peel an pit pumpkin, cut it into large chunks and add to boiling water until cooked. Around 15 minutes.
- Remove pumpkin from pot, transfer to a blender or food processor with 1cup water. Hit the puree setting for 1-2 minutes or until smooth then set aside to cool. In the same pot that the pumpkin boiled, top up water if necessary and bring to a boil again. Once boiling add the pasta and cook until al dente. When cooked drain pasta and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking.
- While the pasta cooks strip the outer layer of the sausage link then set aside. This will allow the sausage to crumble naturally.
- Chop onions and garlic and heat a large sauce pot on medium with vegetable oil.
- Sauté onions, garlic, paprika and sausage for 2 minutes or until nice and brown.
- Add pumpkin puree, coconut milk and mix well. Cook until creamy. Around 3- 5minutes. Season with sage, basil, salt and pepper to taste.
- Add pasta to the pot and toss until all the pasta is evenly coated.
- Serve hot and top with cheese, red pepper flakes or crushed parsley.
Price Range: $1,600 JMD. (Price range based on type of supermarket, brand and season. Does not include Pantry Items and tax)
Brawta: Chorizo and Rigatoni. (Non pantry ingredients that are leftovers for future use.)
Making the Love of Food more affordable!
This looks delish (like everything else) … I’ll use this recipe for tomorrow’s dinner!
Loving the site Big Plate !
This looks soooo yummy 🤤 I will definitely try this recipe.