Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
- 2 pounds butternut squash—peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped thyme
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 1/2 pounds Rotini or small shells
- 3/4 cup freshly grated caciocavallo, pecorino or Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In a large, deep skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic, onion and crushed red pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the garlic and onion are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the squash and thyme, season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender, about 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, add the rotini to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Add the rotini to the squash mixture in the skillet, then stir in 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water and toss gently to combine. Add the 3/4 cup of caciocavallo, season with salt and pepper and stir gently; add a little more pasta water if necessary. Serve the pasta right away, passing more cheese at the table.
**You can substitute pumpkin or hubbard squash for the butternut. Cook the squash until it's soft but not falling apart—you don't want al dente squash, but not too soft.
