Pin Recipe Roasted sweet potatoes, goat cheese, and sage tossed with creamy pasta for ultimate comfort.
A lovely alternative to heavy cream based pastas that combines crispy sage for irresistible texture and fragrance.
Ingredients
- Sweet potatoes: 2 medium (about 1.1 pounds), peeled and diced
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Pasta: 12 ounces short pasta such as rigatoni, penne, or fusilli
- Goat cheese: 4.2 ounces crumbled
- Heavy cream: 1/4 cup
- Sage leaves: 20 fresh
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons, plus more for drizzling
- Unsalted butter: 1 tablespoon
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper: to taste
- Grated parmesan cheese: 1 ounce (optional garnish)
- Crushed red pepper flakes: optional garnish
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Preheat oven to 430°F. Toss diced sweet potatoes and minced garlic with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and caramelized.
- Step 2:
- While the sweet potatoes are roasting, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 2/3 cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
- Step 3:
- In a large skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and the butter over medium heat. Add sage leaves and fry for 1 to 2 minutes until crispy. Remove sage with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel.
- Step 4:
- Add the roasted sweet potatoes to the skillet. Using a fork, mash about half of the sweet potatoes, leaving the remainder in chunks for texture.
- Step 5:
- Add drained cooked pasta to the skillet with sweet potatoes. Stir in heavy cream, crumbled goat cheese, and half of the reserved pasta water. Toss until the sauce is creamy and coats the pasta, adding additional pasta water as needed.
- Step 6:
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately topped with crispy sage leaves, grated parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes as desired.
Pin Recipe This dish has become a quick family favorite for cozy weeknight dinners that everyone enjoys.
Additional Tips
Customizable with pantry pasta shapes for varied textures and experience.
Nutritional Benefits
High in vitamin A and fiber thanks to sweet potatoes, great for meal prep and leftovers are delicious.
Flavor Insights
Creamy sauce made without loads of heavy cream balances richness and lightness nicely.
Pin Recipe Enjoy this comforting dish with a sprinkle of parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil for a perfect finish.
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I achieve the best flavor from sweet potatoes?
Roasting sweet potatoes until caramelized enhances their natural sweetness and adds depth to the dish. Stir halfway through cooking for even browning.
- → What type of pasta works best here?
Short pasta shapes like rigatoni, penne, or fusilli hold the sauce well and complement the texture of the sweet potatoes.
- → Why should I save some pasta water?
Reserved pasta water helps bind the sauce, making it creamy and glossy while adjusting consistency without extra cream.
- → How do I prepare the sage for the dish?
Frying fresh sage leaves until crispy brings out their fragrance and adds a pleasant crunch as a topping.
- → Can I customize the creaminess of the sauce?
You can adjust the amount of goat cheese, cream, and pasta water to reach your preferred sauce richness and texture.