This savory pasta dish features Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. TomaProvence and gets a touch of sweetness from delicata squash.
In 1959 Bob and Dean Giacomini established their successful dairy farm along Highway 1, just north of Point Reyes Station. In 2000, together with their daughters, the family began making cheese on the farm with milk from their own herd of Holsteins. In 2010, the family opened The Fork, a culinary and educational center, offering farm-to-table educational experiences for both consumers and the trade.
Three of the Giacomini sisters, Diana, Lynn and Jill now own and run the company that is recognized nationally as an award-winning producer best-in-class, hand-crafted, artisan cheese. With production locations on the farm and in nearby Petaluma, the Point Reyes Farmstead product line contains Original Blue, Bay Blue, Toma, TomaProvence, TomaTruffle, TomaRashi, Gouda, and Quinta. The cheeses are available nationally at independent cheese shops and specialty grocers, at The Fork, local-area farmers’ markets and online at www.pointreyescheese.com.
Pasta with Delicata Squash, Brown Butter and TomaProvence
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 1 to 1 ½ pounds delicata squash 1-2 squashes, halved lengthwise, seeded and sliced in 1/4-inch slices
- 1 pound whole-wheat spaghetti
- 1 bunch Dino kale ribs removed, leaves cut into wide ribbons
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes plus more as needed
- 6 oz grated Point Reyes TomaProvence divided
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat half the oil over medium-high. Add half the squash in a single layer, season with salt and cook, undisturbed, until browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove cooked squash to a plate, add remaining half of oil to the pan and cook the second half of the squash in the same way.
- When the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Return cooked squash to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the butter and stir with the squash until the butter is golden, nutty smelling and foaming, 1 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the red-pepper flakes, and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add kale to the pot, tossing gently until coated with butter and beginning to wilt.
- Add the pasta, ½ cup pasta water and about ¾ of the TomaProvence to the squash mixture. Set over low heat and toss gently until the cheese is melted and pasta is coated with sauce. If the pasta looks dry, add more pasta water as needed. Remove from heat. Season to taste with more red-pepper flakes and salt.
- Remove to a serving bowl, top with remaining TomaProvence and serve.
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company
In 1959 Bob and Dean Giacomini established their successful dairy farm along Highway 1, just north of Point Reyes Station. In 2000, together with their daughters, the family began making cheese on the farm with milk from their own herd of Holsteins. In 2010, the family opened The Fork, a culinary and educational center, offering farm-to-table educational experiences for both consumers and the trade. Three of the Giacomini sisters, Diana, Lynn and Jill now own and run the company that is recognized nation ally as an award-winning producer best-in-class, hand-crafted, artisan cheese. With production locations on the farm and in nearby Petaluma, the Point Reyes Farmstead product line contains Original Blue, Bay Blue, Toma and Gouda. The cheeses are available nationally at independent cheese shops and specialty grocers, at The Fork, local-area farmers’ markets and online at www.pointreyescheese.com
