Our Butternut Squash Alfredo pasta topped with fresh sage is a delicious, gluten-free option to serve as a seasonal dish. Tossed in a thick and creamy Alfredo sauce made with nutritional yeast, butter, and protein-packed Lifeway Kefir, each comforting bite is a loving reminder to your gut that health comes first no matter what. Nutritional yeast adds B vitamins and a delicious cheesy flavor in place of Parmesan cheese, but you can also use grated Parmesan, if you prefer.
Either way, our kefir gives this pasta an incredible texture, while the probiotics soften up the sauce and help keep it silky smooth, just like buttermilk does but with more probiotics. Our kefir is also very easy to digest and virtually lactose-free, so if traditional pasta with cream is normally off the table for you, this is a recipe you can enjoy without worry!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of gluten-free spaghetti or linguine
- 1 cup Organic Whole Milk Plain Kefir
- 2 tbsp. organic butter
- 3 tbsp. nutritional yeast flakes (or 1/4 cup grated Parmesan)
- 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium butternut squash peeled and chopped into small cubes
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. mustard powder
- 1/4 tsp. paprika powder
- 3-4 sage leaves, plus some for garnish
Directions
- Salt pasta water and boil the pasta to al dente.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté till golden and soft. Add the butternut squash, vegetable broth, kefir, mustard powder, paprika, nutritional yeast or grated Parmesan, sage leaves, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook 10 - 15 minutes until the butternut squash is very tender when pierced with a fork.
- Fish out the sage leaves, then use a hand blender to blend the butternut squash mixture until it's completely smooth and creamy. If your sauce is too thick, you can add another 1/4 cup of Lifeway Kefir or veggie broth. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss well to coat, top with additional nutritional yeast (or Parmesan cheese). Add more salt and garlic powder if needed. Top with fresh sage leaves as a garnish, and enjoy.
