Rigatoni With Sausage, Pumpkin & Tomato Sauce

• salt and pepper
• 1 pound rigatoni
• 1 cup chicken stock
• a generous pinch saffron (20-24 threads)
• 2 tablespoons EVOO
• 1 pound sweet or hot sausage
• 1 pound pumpkin or butternut squash, cut into small dice
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 - 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 fresno chile pepper, thinly sliced, or 1 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1 28 - 32 ounce can san marzano tomatoes
• grated pecorino-romano, for serving

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 12 cup of the pasta cooking water.
2. While the pasta is working, in a small saucepan, heat the stock and saffron. Keep warm.
3. In a large skillet, heat the EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Crumble in the sausage and cook until browned. Add the pumpkin (or squash), onion, garlic and chile; season with salt and pepper. Partially cover and cook for 7 minutes. Stir in the saffron stock and tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced, 15 minutes.
4. Add the pasta and reserved cooking water to the sauce and toss. Serve in bowls and top with the cheese.

salt, rigatoni, chicken stock, saffron, evoo, sweet, pumpkin, onion, garlic, chile pepper, tomatoes, pecorinoromano

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/rigatoni-with-sausage-pumpkin-tomato-sauce-51911601 (may not work)