Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells with Blackberry Cream Sauce
We love butternut squash, and these shells are amazing. But, they called for a butter, or cheese sauce, which was just way too rich for me. So, I decide to try something new, and that’s where these butternut squash stuffed shells with blackberry cream sauce came from, and they are to die for. Seriously, the blackberries compliment it so well, you’ll be asking for seconds and thirds.
Ingredients
1 large butternut squash
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
12 ounce package jumbo pasta shells (about 20-24 shells total)
2 cups of part-skim ricotta cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/2 cup packed fresh spinach (chop after measuring)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
–Sauce–
1/2 – 3/4 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup apple juice
1/8 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1-2 cups blackberries
1/8 cup red cooking wine
1/4 cup blackberry jam
1/2 – 1 tsp. lemon zest
Instructions
1
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Peel the butternut squash and chop the flesh into cubes. Toss the cubed squash in 1-2 tablespoons olive oil and roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the squash is fork tender. Scrape the warm squash into a bowl and mash with a potato masher until smooth. Let it cool to warm room temperature. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
2
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Peel the butternut squash and chop the flesh into cubes. Toss the cubed squash in 1-2 tablespoons olive oil and roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the squash is fork tender. Scrape the warm squash into a bowl and mash with a potato masher until smooth. Let it cool to warm room temperature. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
3
While the shells are making, prepare the sauce. Add all ingredients to a pot and let simmer. Taste, and add more cream, lemon zest, and cinnamon as desired.
4
Drizzle the sauce over the cooked shells and enjoy.
5
Adapted from http://www.melskitchencafe.com/butternut-squash-stuffed-shells-with-sage-browned-butter/
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