Pumpkin Gouda Shells (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 ounces of large pasta shells

→ Filling

02 - 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
03 - 1 1/4 cups ricotta cheese
04 - 1/3 cup + 1/3 cup shredded Artikaas Gouda with Ginger and Pumpkin Seeds
05 - 2 minced garlic cloves
06 - 1 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/2 of a large diced yellow onion
10 - 1 tablespoon of olive oil for sautéing

→ Sauce

11 - 4 tablespoons of salted butter
12 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
13 - 6 chopped fresh sage leaves (plus whole leaves for dressing)
14 - Pinch of black pepper and salt
15 - 2 cups heavy cream

# Instructions:

01 - Turn on the oven and preheat to 400°F (200°C).
02 - Cook the large shells following the instructions on their box until they're just tender. Strain then let them rest to cool off a bit.
03 - Heat olive oil in a skillet, cooking the diced onion with half of the sliced sage leaves until the onions are soft. Stir together ricotta, pumpkin puree, nutmeg, salt, pepper, 1/3 cup shredded Gouda, minced garlic, and the sautéed onions in a bowl until blended.
04 - Let the butter melt in a saucepan over medium heat until it browns just a little. Drop in the rest of the sage and stir for a minute until fragrant. Sprinkle the flour in and cook, stirring quickly, for about a minute. Pour in half of the cream and whisk until smooth and starting to thicken. Add the rest of the cream, some salt, and some pepper, stirring until the sauce reaches a creamy, thick consistency.
05 - Spread a layer of the creamy sauce at the bottom of a baking pan. Stuff each cooked pasta shell with about two spoonfuls of the filling and line them up in the pan.
06 - Cover the stuffed shells with the rest of the sauce, sprinkle over the last 1/3 cup of Gouda, and slide it into the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese bubbles.
07 - Scatter fried sage leaves and a touch of ground black pepper on the shells before serving them up.

# Notes:

01 - Want a crunchy topping? Fry some extra sage leaves to add on top.