Brown Butter Sage Orzo with Spicy Sausage & Butternut Squash

Name: Brown Butter Sage Orzo with Spicy Sausage & Butternut Squash
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Sausage; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 pound uncooked spicy (or mild) Italian chicken or pork sausage, casings removed; Orzo; ¼ cup salted butter; 20 sage leaves, chopped; 1 large shallot, diced; 6 cloves garlic, minced; 2 cups (12 ounces) dried orzo; ½ cup dry white wine*; 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth; 3 to 4 cups cubed butternut squash (½ inch cubes); 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste; Freshly ground black pepper; Mix-ins; 6 ounces goat cheese, crumbled; 3 cups roughly chopped spinach; Juice from 1 medium lemon (reserve the zest); Garnish; Zest from 1 medium lemon; 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled; ¼ cup toasted pine nuts or chopped toasted walnuts; Red pepper flakes

Orzo pasta cooked in chicken broth with browned butter and sage, combined with spicy sausage and roasted butternut squash for a warm, savory one-pot dish.

Glycemic Load: 24.3 (High)

763 calories per serving

Serves: 6

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 35 minutes

Original recipe: www.ambitiouskitchen.com

About This Calculation

Brown Butter Sage Orzo with Spicy Sausage & Butternut Squash has a high glycemic load of 24.3 per serving — significant blood sugar impact — consider pairing with protein and fiber, or adjusting portion size.

The primary glycemic load contributors are dried orzo pasta (GL 19.7), butternut squash, cubed (GL 4.0), fresh sage (GL 0.2). These ingredients account for the majority of the carbohydrate impact per serving.

Glycemic load is calculated as GL = (GI × Net Carbs per serving) ÷ 100, where GI is the glycemic index and net carbs exclude dietary fiber. Calculations draw on established nutritional references including USDA FoodData Central values and peer-reviewed glycemic index research.