Thai Pumpkin Pasta

Easy Pumpkin Pasta bursting multi-dimensional Thai flavors in a creamy, tantalizing spicy peanut pumpkin sauce that you will want to make year round!

This Pumpkin Pasta can be on your table in 25 minutes!  You can completely customize your Pumpkin Pasta recipe to include your favorite protein and whatever veggies you have on hand.   The sauce is mega creamy yet healthy at the same time and soooo lick-your-plate delicious! 

 

Pumpkin Pasta Recipe

Have you heard there is going to be a pumpkin shortage this Fall? Pumpkin crops are down by about half this year so while stores will probably have enough canned pumpkin through New Year, they probably won’t be restocking after that any time soon.  Sad, sad day.

And especially sad if you don’t get your pumpkin fill ASAP!  As in my Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bundt Cake, Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake, Pumpkin Bars with Nutella Cream Cheese Frosting, Pumpkin Cookies,Pumpkin Muffins just to name a few… and now this 100% DELISH Spicy Thai Pumpkin Pasta.  What to make first?!

As you can tell, I LOVE everything pumpkin but I also love everything pasta AND everything Thai — so what do you get when you add them all together?!   Mind blowing Thai Pumpkin Pasta!

This spicy Thai Pumpkin Pasta is, in essence, your favorite peanut noodles with the added depth and creaminess from the pumpkin puree.  So basically, they are better than your favorite peanut noodles!

The healthy, flavor bursting velvety sauce of hearty pumpkin puree whisked with soy sauce, smooth peanut butter, lime juice, mirin, brown sugar, fresh basil and Sriracha is further enlivened by stir fried red curry, ginger and whatever crunch of vegetables you choose.

To make this Pumpkin Pasta a complete meal-in-one, I added zucchini, carrots, red bell peppers and snow peas and threw in a few sweetly tart pomegranate seeds just for an extra oomph, but really, you can just add whatever you have in your fridge and it will taste AH-mazing because the sauce is AH-mazing.  

Stir fry pastas are all about the sauce.  And if you are worried about this being too spicy, never fear, just add less Sriracha!  You can always add more later, but you can’t take it back.

So between now and New Year and no-more-pumpkin puree, I hope you get your pumpkin fill and I hope it includes treating your taste buds to better-than-takeout 25 Minute Spicy Thai Pumpkin Pasta!

Thai Pumpkin Pasta Ingredients

The pumpkin pasta sauce is bursting with flavor thanks to the layers of spices, sauces, and other flavoring agents in it. Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:

• Chicken: It is much easier to thinly slice your chicken when it is partially frozen, that way it is not squirming all underneath you.
• Spaghetti: Use thin spaghetti noodles or soba noodles, if you can get your hands on them.
• Red curry paste: Note that some curry brands are spicier than others (Thai Kitchen is mild, Mae Ploy is spicy). 
• Ginger: Freshly grated is best, but you may use ground ginger if that’s all you have.
• Veggies: This Thai pasta is loaded with zucchini, bell pepper, carrots, and snow peas!
• Peanut butter: Use creamy peanut butter. Natural PB or a traditional brand like Jif will work.
• Soy sauce: Use reduced sodium soy sauce so you can control the saltiness of the Thai pasta.
• Pumpkin puree: Use Pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling.  Pumpkin puree is 100% pure  pumpkin that has been cooked and pureed.  Pumpkin Pie filling, however, has been sweetened and seasoned with Fall spices.
• Lime juice: Adds freshness and awakens the rest of the flavors. You may use fresh or bottled lime juice. I like to freeze lime juice in cubes so I always have some on hand.
• Fish sauce: Fish sauce is a primary ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking and adds a fabulous umami flavor. My husband thinks he hates fish sauce but LOVES all of my Thai recipes ;).
• Sweet Japanese rice wine: You may also use mirin or dry sherry, if desired.
• Asian hot chili sauce:  You can customize the spice level by adding additional chili sauce to taste. If you aren’t sure how much to add, you can start with less then stir in more at the end if needed or add it to your individual servings. 
• Basil: Adds a layer of savory, peppery and slightly minty flavor. I used dried basil for convenience but you are welcome to use fresh, chopped basil
• Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce without altering the flavor.

How to Make Thai Pumpkin Pasta

This Thai pasta is a breeze to make! Here are the basic instructions (see the recipe card below for more detailed steps):

1. Cook the noodles according to package directions, then drain and set aside.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients. Set aside.
3. Heat a little oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add the chicken and stir fry for 1-2 minutes or until almost cooked through. Remove chicken to a separate plate.
4. Heat more oil in the same pan. Add the red curry paste, ginger and veggies.
5. Add Thai Pumpkin Sauce, snow peas and chicken and simmer until slightly thickened and chicken is cooked through.
6. Stir in peanut butter.
7. Add noodles and toss until evenly coated, adding additional water if sauce has become to thick.

Tips for Making Thai Pumpkin Pasta

• Cook your pasta al dente — no one wants mushy Pumpkin Pasta!  I rinse my pasta with cold water to keep it from cooking and toss it with a little olive oil to keep it from sticking.
• For maximum efficiency, use the time while the noodles are cooking to whisk together your Pumpkin Pasta Sauce ingredients.
• Have your Pumpkin Pasta Sauce ready and all your chicken and veggies chopped before you start cooking because the actual cooking process is super quick and you want everything ready to go at your fingertips.
• If you don’t like heat at all, start with 1 teaspoon Sriracha.  I would say 2 teaspoons Sriracha is medium heat and 3 is on the spicy side.   I would start with less if you aren’t sure because you can always add more heat at the end of cooking  – but it is hard to take it away!
• Taste your Pumpkin Pasta at the end of cooking and add additional lime juice for tangier, sugar for sweeter, soy sauce for saltier.
• After you toss your Pumpkin Pasta in the sauce, you may wan to add additional water to thin to desired consistency.
• Garnish, garnish, garnish!  Crunchy peanuts,  cilantro, and pomegranate arils make this Thai Pumpkin Pasta come alive!

Recipe Variations to Try

This Pumpkin Pasta is easy to customize to your own different preferences by adding different vegetables or proteins and making it tangier, sweeter or spicier.

• Veggies:  As far as veggies go, I’ve  zucchini, carrots, red bell peppers and snow peas but you can omit any of these veggies and substitute with your favs or make it a cleaen-out-the-fridge night.
• Proteins:  You can omit the chicken altogether or substitute it for beef, shrimp or tofu.  If substituting  beef, then marinate it first in some soy sauce, brown sugar and rice wine vinegar and you can follow my cooking instructions in my Beef and Broccoli recipe.  For shrimp, cook them as you would the chicken just until opaque, about 3 minutes.  Remove to a plate per the chicken instructions.
• Tofu Option:  For Pumpkin Pasta with tofu, use 4 ounces of extra-firm tofu, cut int ½ inch cubes and add them to the skillet with the noodles at the end of cooking.

Can I Prep This Pumpkin Pasta in Advance?

This Thai pasta comes together in less than 30 minutes, but if you want dinner to come together in minutes (if you’re hosting, for example) then you can prep everything ahead of time. Here’s how:

• Chop chicken: Chop the chicken, pat dry and season with salt and pepper.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
• Make the sauce:  Whisk the sauce together 24 hours in advance and store, covered, in the refrigerator.
• Chop veggies: Chop the bell peppers and zucchini 24 hours in advance and store in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator.

How to Store Thai Pasta

Thai pumpkin pasta should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When stored properly, it is good for up to five days.

How to Reheat Pumpkin Pasta

• Microwave: Transfer a portion to a microwave-safe dish, heat for 1 minute, stir, then continue to heat at 30-second intervals. 
• Stove: For larger portions, rewarm gently in a large skillet, stirring often.

What to Serve with Thai Pumpkin Pasta

• Appetizers: The following aren’t all Thai recipes, but they’d still pair nicely with this dish: Spring Rolls, Egg Rolls, Potstickers, Cream Cheese Wontons.
• Bread:  Naan or roti bread to soak up the delectable sauce.  
• Salad:  A simple green salad, Asian Pineapple Salad, Thai Cucumber Salad.

LOOKING FOR MORE PUMPKIN RECIPES?

• Pumpkin Praline Pie
• Pumpkin Bread 
• Pumpkin Crepes with Nutella Filling
• Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce
• Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
• Pumpkin Blueberry Scones

LOOKING FOR MORE NOODLE RECIPES?

• Thai Chicken Noodle Soup
• Chicken Pad Thai
• Honey Sriracha Chicken Noodle Bowls
• Miso Soup with Chicken, Noodles and Vggies
• Sesame Noodles with Chicken and  Veggies
• Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

Looking for more cozy Asian recipes?

• Pumpkin Coconut Chicken Fall Curry
• Peanut Pineapple Thai Chicken Satay
• 30 Minute Sticky Thai Peanut Orange Chicken
• Thai Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato, Carrot Soup

WANT TO TRY THIS PUMPKIN PASTA RECIPE?

PIN IT TO YOUR PASTA, ASIAN, CHICKEN, DINNER OR 30 MINUTE MEALS BOARD TO SAVE FOR LATER!

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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

Tools Used in This Recipe

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Pasta Pot and Strainer

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Nonstick Fry Pan with Lid 12 in.

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Garlic Press

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Teak Wood Cutting Board

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Thai Pumpkin Pasta with chicken option)

25 Minute Spicy Thai Pumpkin Noodles (with chicken option) are quick and easy to whip up and smothered in the most tantalizing spicy peanut pumpkin sauce that you will want to make year round!

Servings: 6 servings

Total Time: 25 minutes mins

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken breasts cut into thin slices, (2-3 chicken breasts)**
• 12 oz. thin spaghetti or soba noodles
• 1 tablespoon red curry paste
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
• 1 small zucchini, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup Matchstick carrots
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup Snow peas, trimmed
• 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter

Thai Pumpkin Sauce

• 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons sweet Japanese rice wine, mirin or dry sherry
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2-3 teaspoons Sriracha/Asian hot red chili sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried basil (or ¼ cup lightly packed fresh basil)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Garnish

• fresh cilantro
• lime juice
• Crushed salted peanuts
• pomegranate arils (optional)

Instructions

• Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together Spicy Pumpkin Sauce Ingredients. Set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive/coconut oil over high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add chicken and stir fry for 1-2 minutes or until almost cooked through (it will finish cooking in sauce). Remove chicken to a separate plate.
• Heat an additional 2 tablespoons oil over medium high heat in the same pan. Add red curry, ginger and zucchini and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add bell pepper and carrots and stir fry 2 more minutes. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds.
• Add Thai Pumpkin Sauce, snow peas and chicken and simmer until slightly thickened and chicken is cooked through. Stir in peanut butter.
• Add noodles and toss until evenly coated, adding additional water if sauce has become to thick. Taste and add additional Sriracha if desired. Garnish with cilantro, lime juice, peanuts and pomegranate arils (optional).

Notes

TIPS FOR PUMPKIN PASTA

• Cook your pasta al dente - no one wants mushy Pumpkin Pasta!  I rinse my pasta with cold water to keep it from cooking and toss it with a little olive oil to keep it from sticking.
• For maximum efficiency, use the time while the noodles are cooking to whisk together your Pumpkin Pasta Sauce ingredients.
• Use Pumpkin puree and NOT pumpkin pie filling.  Pumpkin puree is 100% pure  pumpkin that has been cooked and pureed.  Pumpkin Pie filling, however, has been sweetened and seasoned with Fall spices.
• Have your Pumpkin Pasta Sauce ready and all your chicken and veggies chopped before you start cooking because the actual cooking process is super quick and you want everything ready to go at your fingertips.
• **It is much easier to thinly slice your chicken when it is partially frozen, that way it is not squirming all underneath you.
•  If you don’t like heat at all, start with 1 teaspoon Sriracha.  I would say 2 teaspoons Sriracha is medium heat and 3 is on the spicy side.   I would start with less if you aren't sure because you can always add more heat at the end of cooking  - but it is hard to take it away!
• Taste your Pumpkin Pasta at the end of cooking and add additional lime juice for tangier, sugar for sweeter, soy sauce for saltier.
• After you toss your Pumpkin Pasta in the sauce, you may wan to add additional water to thin to desired consistency.
• Garnish, garnish, garnish!  Crunchy peanuts,  cilantro, and pomegranate arils make this Thai Pumpkin Pasta come alive!

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