Baked Shells with Winter Squash Recipe

Baked Shells with Winter Squash Recipe

  • Butter, for baking dish
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1 pound small pasta shells
  • 1 (12 ounce) package frozen winter squash puree, thawed
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 slices crusty baguette, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions; season with salt and pepper. Cover; cook until onions are soft and release liquid, 15 minutes. Uncover; raise heat to medium. Cook, stirring, until onions are browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon rosemary.
  2. Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water 2 minutes less than package instructions suggest. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups cooking water. Return pasta to pot.
  3. Stir squash and reserved pasta water into onions; simmer 2 minutes. Toss squash mixture and 1/2 cup Parmesan with pasta. Transfer to prepared dish.
  4. Combine bread cubes with remaining Parmesan, rosemary, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Top pasta with bread cubes; bake until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.