One Pot Pasta (Sausage and Squash)

This creamy, cheesy pasta sauce is a great foil for the lb of butternut squash scattered throughout the dish. The best part? Both the pasta and the sauce are made in one pot - no separate pot of boiling water needed.

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
12 oz Italian sausage, casings removed (~ 3 links)
1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, unbleached
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
1½ cups Parmesan, finely grated, divided
½ large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, chopped into ½" pieces (~ 1 lb)
½ lb fusilli
1 clove garlic, finely grated
1 sprig sage
1½ tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. nutmeg, freshly grated
black pepper, freshly ground

Heat oil in a medium heavy pot over medium-high. Cook sausage, breaking up into about 1" pieces with a wooden spoon, until well browned, 5-7 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until evenly distributed, about 1 minute.

Combine milk, cream and 2 cups water in a large bowl or glass measuring cup. Stirring sausage mixture constantly, slowly stream in milk mixture; bring to a simmer. Add 1¼ cups Parmesan and cook, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted. Add squash, pasta, garlic, sage, salt and nutmeg and toss to combine, making sure pasta is covered with liquid. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and bring to a bare simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked through, squash is beginning to break down and sauce is reduced and glossy, about 20 minutes.

Pluck out and discard sage. Transfer pasta to a platter. Top with remaining ¼ cup Parmesan and a few cranks of pepper.

Makes 4 servings.