Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pasta Bake

Total Time: 55 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 2 cups raw fresh pumpkin, cut into 1" cubes
• 1 box Explore Cuisine Organic Chickpea Fusilli
• 2 Tbsp. Nutiva Buttery Coconut Oil
• 1 leek stalk chopped into 1/2” circles
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1/3 cup + 2 Tbsp. cashew cheese
• 1-1/2 cups vegetable stock
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 3 fresh thyme stems plus more for garnish
• 1/2 tsp. Celtic sea salt
• 4 oz. vegan cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In large pot of boiling water, cook pumpkin cubes 17 minutes, until just soft.
3. Meanwhile, bring second pot of water to boil. Cook pasta 7 minutes.
4. In large skillet over medium-high heat, heat buttery coconut oil. Sauté garlic and leeks until tender, about 5 minutes. Add vegetable broth, sea salt and dried thyme. Gently stir until mixture begins to simmer. Stir in cashew cheese until well-combined.
5. Stir in cooked pumpkin and pasta. Transfer to baking dish. Top with vegan cheddar cheese and fresh thyme. Bake 20 minutes.