Sweet Potato Goat Cheese Sage (Printable)

Caramelized sweet potatoes, goat cheese, and crispy sage create a creamy pasta dish full of warm, vibrant flavors.

# Ingredient list:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1.1 pounds), peeled and diced
02 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Pasta

03 - 12 ounces short pasta (rigatoni, penne, or fusilli)

→ Dairy

04 - 4.2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
05 - 1/4 cup heavy cream

→ Herbs & Aromatics

06 - 20 fresh sage leaves

→ Pantry

07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
08 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish (optional)

10 - 1 ounce grated parmesan cheese
11 - Crushed red pepper flakes

# Cooking steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 430°F. Toss diced sweet potatoes and minced garlic with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and caramelized.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 2/3 cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
03 - In a large skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and butter over medium heat. Fry sage leaves for 1 to 2 minutes until crisp. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towel.
04 - Add roasted sweet potatoes to skillet. Mash about half with a fork, leaving the rest in chunks for texture.
05 - Add drained pasta to skillet with sweet potatoes. Stir in heavy cream, crumbled goat cheese, and half of reserved pasta water. Toss until creamy, adding more pasta water as needed to coat evenly.
06 - Season with salt and black pepper. Serve topped with crispy sage leaves, grated parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes as desired.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • Easy enough for weeknights but impressive for guests
  • Vegetarian friendly and packed with flavor
02 -
  • Roast sweet potatoes until truly caramelized as this is key to deep flavor
  • Always reserve pasta water to help the sauce bind and turn glossy
03 -
  • Do not skip frying the sage it is what elevates this pasta to restaurant worthy status
  • Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and gloss
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