Rustic‑Clean • Elevated Home Cooking • Autumn Comfort
This pasta blends rustic autumn comfort with elevated simplicity. The brown butter adds warmth and nuttiness, the roasted squash brings sweetness, and the sage ties everything together with a classic seasonal aroma. It’s cozy, polished, and deeply satisfying, which is exactly the kind of elevated home cooking Tori is known for, her refined style.
Prep 15 min Cook 30 min Serves 4
Ingredients
3 cups butternut squash, cubed
3 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp olive oil
350 g short pasta (rigatoni, penne, or similar)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/3 cup Parmesan, finely grated
6–8 leaves fresh sage
To taste sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Roast the squash
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast 20–25 minutes until caramelised and tender. - Cook the pasta
Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. - Brown the butter
In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add sage leaves. Cook until the butter turns golden and smells nutty. - Build the sauce
Add shallot and garlic to the brown butter. Sauté until fragrant. Add a splash of pasta water to create a glossy sauce. - Combine
Fold in roasted squash and cooked pasta. Toss with Parmesan until coated and silky. - Finish
Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm with extra Parmesan and crisp sage leaves.
Beauty Benefits
Butternut Squash
- Beta‑carotene supports collagen and natural radiance
- Vitamin C brightens and firms the skin
- Vitamin E protects the moisture barrier
Brown Butter
- Healthy fats support supple, hydrated skin
- Nutty compounds offer antioxidant benefits
Garlic & Shallot
- Sulphur compounds support detox pathways
- Helps reduce inflammation linked to dullness
Sage
- Rich in antioxidants that help calm redness
- Supports circulation for a fresh complexion
This dish is a glow‑enhancing, skin‑supportive autumn comfort meal.
Health Benefits
- High in antioxidants (beta‑carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E)
- Supports immune health during colder months
- Anti‑inflammatory from sage, garlic, and olive oil
- Balanced energy from pasta + healthy fats
- Fibre‑rich squash supports digestion and gut‑skin balance
Storage
- Keeps 3 days refrigerated.
- Reheat gently with a splash of water or broth to restore creaminess.
- Not ideal for freezing due to pasta texture.
Substitutions
- Pasta: rigatoni, penne, fusilli, or gluten‑free pasta
- Parmesan: Pecorino or Grana Padano
- Add‑ins: spinach, kale, toasted pumpkin seeds, crispy pancetta
- Squash: sweet potato or delicata squash
History
Brown butter pasta dishes have deep roots in Northern Italian cooking, where butter and sage are classic companions for autumn produce. Tori’s rustic‑clean style modernises this tradition by keeping the ingredients simple, seasonal, and approachable, while still feeling elevated.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.
do you feel fabulous today?
