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Pumpkin spaghetti with garlic kale, turkey, creamy sauce, and grated cheese in a bowl

Pumpkin Spaghetti with Garlic Kale, Turkey and Cheese

Pumpkin spaghetti is a creamy, comforting pasta dish with a silky pumpkin tomato sauce, savory turkey, and tender garlic kale. It is a cozy weeknight meal that balances rich flavors with fresh greens and hearty texture.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 390

Ingredients
  

Pumpkin Sauce
  • 1 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 sage leaves, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup tomato puree or tomato sauce
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 cup cream or half and half
  • teeny tiny pinch of cinnamon
Pasta and Turkey
  • 8 oz / 225 g bucatini, perciatelli, or spaghetti
  • 1 lb. lean ground turkey
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Kale and Topping
  • 2 tablespoons garlic infused olive oil
  • 1 bunch kale, stems removed, leaves chopped
  • Manchego or Parmesan cheese for topping

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Add the sun dried tomatoes with a few tablespoons of their oil to a large pot over medium high heat. Stir in the chopped onion, garlic, and sage, then sauté until the aromatics soften and become fragrant.
  2. Mix in the pumpkin puree, tomato puree, chicken broth, basil, and cinnamon. Let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes, adding more water or broth as needed to maintain the desired consistency.
  3. Blend the sauce with an immersion blender in the pot or transfer it carefully to a blender until mostly smooth. Stir in the cream and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
Cooking
  1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. While it cooks, brown the ground turkey in a large skillet with the sliced onion, chili powder, and garlic powder, adding a small amount of water if needed to keep the mixture moist.
  2. Warm the garlic infused olive oil over medium heat. Add the kale and sauté until the leaves are wilted.
  3. Combine the cooked pasta, turkey mixture, and pumpkin sauce. Serve with the sautéed kale and finish with Manchego or Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Garlic infused olive oil is optional, but it provides a light garlic flavor in the kale without leaving small garlic pieces throughout the greens. If you do not have garlic oil, use regular minced garlic cloves with the kale instead. Another option is to gently warm the oil with whole smashed garlic cloves, then remove the cloves before adding the kale.