Butternut Squash Gnocchi Recipe

There are many new seasonal ingredients available at the market, but the one that really represents Thanksgiving season to me is butternut squash. The color of this versatile veggie embodies the fall and the flavor is sweet with a slightly nutty taste.


I love butternut squash in pasta dishes, so today I sautéed whole wheat gnocchi in butter and garlic, tossed in a molasses-roasted butternut squash and finished the gnocchi dish with store-bought butternut squash pasta sauce. This special sauce was the winner of the best pasta sauce at the New York Fancy Food Show in 2009. I received it from our friend Dave of DavesGourmet.com. This exquisite sauce is made with squash ripened in Oregon's Willamette Valley and contains fresh garlic, onions and roasted bell peppers. Dave's Gourmet is going to be part of almost $1,000-worth of giveaways to Pham Fatale readers in the month of December. I’ll introduce some of the wonderful products that await you over the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

Eggplant Pasta Sauce Recipe

A warm pasta dish is the ideal comfort food, especially with the temperature dropping drastically in the Bay Area. There are no more fresh tomatoes in our planter and I had no canned tomatoes in my pantry either. With a tomato-based sauce out of the question, I made my own creation with a buttery cream cheese base. To that, I added roasted eggplant pulp for smokiness, roasted bell peppers, button mushrooms, garlic, sage and smoked paprika to complement the eggplant.

I used Wellenband egg noodles that I sautéed with the eggplant pasta sauce and added a little pasta water to finish the dish. I found the versatile shape of Wellenband pasta very original; the ruffles hold the sauce beautifully in their ridges. I also like the nice medium size; they can be eaten in one bite, which avoids any messiness, especially for children.

Lamb Meatball Recipe (Gluten Free Meatballs)

My favorite meat by far is lamb. When seasoned properly, it is so tender and tasty. I enjoy it both in whole pieces and in ground form. I recently made meatballs using ground lamb, which is something I haven’t tried before. The filling was flavored with fresh mint, cumin, smoked paprika, smoked pepper, smoked sea salt,  Worcestershire sauce, cayenne powder and lemon juice. I browned the meatballs in a non-stick pan and finished cooking them in marinara sauce. Usually I add bread to the meat but replaced it with quinoa to make the dish gluten-free. Simple and delicious!

I was introduced to Bourbon Barrel Foods products and used them when making these meatballs. I absolutely LOVE the unique flavors of their soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sea salts and spices. They are some of the most interesting and innovative ingredients I’ve used in a very long time. Annie from Bourbon Barrel Foods was kind enough to agree to give away a bottle of their Bourbon Barrel aged blue grass soy sauce, "the ONLY microbrewed Soy Sauce made in the U.S.", to three lucky Pham Fatale readers. Just submit your email to the Bourbon Barrel newsletter below before Monday, Oct 31^st, 2011 for a chance to win!

Pasta Patty Appetizer Recipe

Making pasta patties is my way of using left-over pasta. I made a very simple pasta dish mixing pre-cooked elbow macaroni, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and eggs. I wanted to create a nice contrast of texture, so I breaded the pasta patties using panko bread crumbs from Asian Food Grocer and gave them a quick pan fry.

I served the crunchy patties with tomato sauce and a light green salad. This is a great light meal for lunch, and can be put together very quickly if you have leftover cooked pasta on hand.

Cold Pasta Salad Recipe

Cold pasta salad is usually made with mayonnaise dressing. One member of my family is allergic to eggs, so this recipe suits her perfectly; as no eggs are used. Even though there are no eggs, I wanted the dressing to be creamy and flavorful, so I mixed in goat cheese with the usual vinaigrette ingredients. For a little extra kick, I added onions cooked down in white balsamic vinegar.

I used cork-screw-shaped pasta, but any other shape such as bowties, shells or penne would work as well. In addition to the diced tomatoes and steamed zucchini, I added black lentils and pan-seared tofu to give this vegetarian pasta dish some protein. Cooking does not always have to be complicated. If you have fresh ingredients and a lot of love, you’ll have a wonderful meal. Bon appétit!