Coconut Pumpkin Pasta
This quick, easy, and thrifty, Creamy Coconut Pumpkin Pasta & Veggie Sauté is the perfectly delicious and nutritious vegetarian meal for those chaotic Fall evenings!
*This post on Coconut Pumpkin Pasta was originally published in October 2016. Life as I know it has changed a lot since then. This is one of our favorite recipes so today I am republishing this recipe along with some updated photos. Thanks so much for stopping by.*
To-do lists are my nemesis.
I am not sure what it is about them, but I have so much trouble writing them down. And, when I do end up writing them down, I manage to misplace them. And, if (by some miracle) I don’t misplace them, I end up totally disregarding them – not bothering to check them even once.
Last week, seeing I didn’t have to juggle blogging and my day job, I figured I would get around to tackling a few things around the house.
So, I actually sat down and made a list.
Not being in denial over my to-do-list-issues, I even taped that list the the fridge.
Before I knew it, Monday had turned into Saturday and I found myself on an apple picking trip to Mercier Orchards with my daughter instead of paying any heed to what was on that list.
But, boy-o-boy was that apple picking trip so worth forgoing that list for!
We hadn’t been to Mercier Orchards before – and were shocked that they let us pick and sample ALL the apples we wanted too.
And, I mean A-L-L the apples we wanted to! We drove home much later that day with our bellies full of Sun Crisp, Fuji, Corail, Ambrosia & Cameo apples – apple food baby anyone?!
I figured I would glance at that list when we got home as I thought it would be a long while before either of us were hungry again. But, boy-o-boy was I wrong.
As soon as we walked into our home, my daughter grabbed a box of Gluten Free Pasta and started in on getting some Coconut Pumpkin Pasta ready.
My daughter adores all sorts of gluten-free pasta, even though she isn’t on a gluten-free diet any more. She says that since she is a brain-thlete, pasta provides her the delicious, balanced nutrition she needs to be healthy while spending her brain power on writing college essays and navigating the FAFSA and Common App!
As she will be off to college soon, I have been trying to show her ways to come up with quick, healthy, budget friendly meals. And, this quick, easy, thrifty, Creamy Coconut Pumpkin Pasta & Veggie Sauté fit the bill. With a few spices, an onion, some garlic, ginger, leftover pumpkin puree, leftover coconut milk and frozen veggies, I helped her put an interesting and delicious fusion-like spin on pasta and vegetables.
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Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 shallot
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
- 2/3 cup Organic 100 % pumpkin puree
- 2/3 cup coconut milk
- 2 cups frozen mixed veggies - I used a carrot/peas blend
- 3 cups Gluten Free Pasta
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp parsley
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Chop shallots finely (You can cook pasta according to package directions in another pan if you are short on time (Banza chickpea pasta cooks in about 5-7 minutes) or use the same pan like I did but cook pasta first and then continue on with the next step)
- Then add olive oil to a pan and place over a medium flame. Add in shallot and saute about 5 minutes - stirring ever so often.
- While shallot sautes, chop ginger cloves and grate garlic and then add the garlic and ginger into the pan and saute about 2 more minutes
- Add in the frozen veggies and saute, stirring frequently till veggies are no longer cold (about 4-5 more minutes)
- Add in the coconut milk, pumpkin puree, turmeric, paprika, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper and saute a couple more minutes
- Add in the cooked pasta and stir until it is well coated with Coconut Pumpkin Sauce and veggies are spread throughout.
- Garnish with parsley and serve warm
Notes
Nutrition
So creamy and delicious! That sauce is to die for with warming anti-inflammatory turmeric. It is just crazy how time flies by so fast but enjoy your girl as these are all precious times. Pinned!
Bobbi, you sure are right – these times sure are precious. Thanks so much my sweet friend!
We know all about the FAFSA and college essays my friend. Wishing your daughter ALL the best!!! She will do great whatever she does. So glad you two went apple picking. We have scheduled an apple picking trip a few times this fall and it has gotten pushed off each time for one reason or another. One of my favorite fall flavors is chunky Honey Crisp apple sauce. A friend made some for us a while ago and I have never tasted anything so delicious and fresh tasting. Speaking of fresh – I love this creative dinner you and your daughter put together. The pumpkin and coconut milk was a real surprise and it looks wonderful with all the fresh veggies and Barilla pasta. Mouthwatering! Have a wonderful week – maybe you’ll lose your to-do list this week too and make it to the pumpkin patch! XO
Hahaha! I tried to throw away my to-do list and go to the pumpkin patch, but unfortunately, my daughter isn’t a fan of it anymore – this growing up bizness is the pits! Allie, I don’t think I’ve had chunky Honey Crisp apple sauce ever – honeycrisps are delicious so I can imagine how great that sauce is! By the way, thank you so very much for your always encouraging and kinds, sweet friend. xoxo
Yay! I love coconut, and this combination sounds amazing (+ so perfect for fall)! Can’t wait to try making this! :] I think I allllmost have all the ingredients for it! 😀
Thanks so much Farrah – Pasta with a fusion twist eh?!
Oh gosh. I often make my to-do list and later I completely forget about it 😉 What a delicious and comfy looking pasta sauté, Shashi. I love coconut and pumpkin but haven’t tried them together in pasta yet. I bet this is one of the most awesome combos ever. Loving all the awesome flavors here! 🙂
Thanks so much Anu! Pumpkin and coconut makes for one lovely pasta sauce 🙂
Love these flavors! This pasta sounds like some perfect fall comfort food!
Thanks so much, Jessica!
Oh dang, those to-do lists!! I know what you go through Shashi!! Sometimes it feels like we need a to-do list for the to-do list, ya know what I mean? Lol. Anyway, glad that shirking that list led to this beautiful creation. Your daughter is so lucky, having a mama like you to cook all of these wonderful dishes. Such a good idea to teach her meals like this that can be prepared so quickly. All of the other kids in her dorm will be asking her constantly for leftovers! Hope you’re having an awesome start to the week my dear! xo
Hahaha – YASSSS!!! I most definitely need a to-do list for my to-do list – kinda like I need a vacay to recover from my vacay 🙂
Haha – Demeter, knowing my daughter, there might not be leftovers – she’s like a camel – eat ALL the food in sight and if there’s nothing in site, she’ll starve! Thanks so much – hope your week ha been wonderful so far xo
I have to-do lists written all over a bunch of post it notes… needless to say it always looks like an office supply store threw up all over my desk. 😉 I LOVE Barilla (and yes I have a post for them coming up too!), so this pasta is calling my name! Love that you used the gluten free variety! And the creamy coconut and pumpkin combo sounds wonderful! This makes getting your recommended serving of veggies look delicious! Do you deliver? 😉 Cheers, dear!
Oh Cheyanne, I had a visual of “it always looks like an office supply store threw up all over my desk” – before I started my blog, my desk looked like that too! 🙂
Thanks so much btw – I am looking forward to your Barilla post, my friend!
haha funnily enough, I LOVE making to-do lists (sometimes multiple versions of them for the same day), but I’m not always as good about getting around to them. Still, I would’ve forsaken a lot of things just to have a taste of this pasta! It reminds me of coconut curry and looks SO AMAZING. YUM.
Haha – Ala – clearly I need your list making tips!
BTW – Thanks so much!
yes to pumpkin pasta! One of my favorite things to make in the season! I love the creamy coconut milk addition! That’s a stand out!
Thanks so much Rebecca – just putting my fusion twist on pasta 🙂
So Lil Shashi loves GF Barilla pasta, huh? Well that’s convenient to know. I’ll make sure to keep the pantry stocked…and I’ll send her messages occasionally showing her said pantry. (Who says that college decision needs to be fair??) Haha! Seriously, though, this pasta sounds incredible, and I love how you incorporated pumpkin and coconut milk into it. Yum! Also, apple picking! Remind Lil Shashi that we have dozens of apple farms up here, ok? I don’t think I’m familiar with Sun Crisps…I’ll have to look into that one! 🙂
Hahaha! Am gonna have to delete your comment that way she will never know of y’alls Barilla stocked pantry or the fact that there are all those apple orchards nearby as her only complaint about our trip to Ellijay last weekend was the almost 2 hour drive up there!
Sun crisps were new to me too – they are kinda like a golden delicious, only slightly more tart and juicy – Mercier Orchards where we went had a tasting station in the store which was quite informative – only we were apple=d out at that point!
This looks so delicious! I love the bright colours in this dish and it looks so creamy and comforting!
Thanks so much Emily
I have an agenda for writing my to-do lists, but always forget to use it. Instead, I just write my lists on scrap pieces of paper that get lost!
I love that you went apple picking (that’s where I’m headed today!) When I get home, I’d love a big bowl of this pasta 😉
Oh Megan – am soo sooo guilty of writing lists down on scrap paper too!
I hope you enjoyed your apple picking expedition and thanks so much
I love the sound of that creamy pumpkin sauce! I’ve been using pumpkin so much the past few weeks!
The pumpkin-luv force is strong – I just cannot get enough of it! Thanks Becca – may the pumpkin luv force stay strong with you too 🙂
We made something similar at the weekend. I just love pumpkin as a sauce in pasta. So seasonal and comforting.
Yes – pumpkin so is comforting and so so versatile! Thanks so much Dannii
I love the flavor combination — I’ve never thought of pumpkin with coconut and I love it! Sounds divine!
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting Valentina
Love this dish, Shashi! looks amazing. What a great combination of flavors and spices. I have just recently changed my mind on pumpkin and now am loving all the healthy recipes that are available.
Thanks so much Rahul – I am so glad you changed your mind about pumpkin – it’s definitely more fun on the pumpkin bandwagon 🙂