Penne with Pumpkin, Mushrooms, and Beef Meatballs

Start by cutting the pulp of the pumpkin into cubes of about one cm, then wash and cut the champignon mushrooms or even the porcini mushrooms into slices for a more intense taste.

In a pan, sauté a clove of garlic with a drizzle of oil, add the pumpkin and cook over medium heat until cooked and browned on the outside.

It's the turn of the meatballs: mix together the minced meat with the egg, the Parmesan cheese, just enough breadcrumbs to have a compact but soft consistency, the garlic and chopped parsley, salt and pepper. Work with your hands until you get a homogeneous mixture and then take a small amount of dough at a time to form the meatballs. They should be about one cm in diameter, at most two. When the pumpkin has softened, add the meatballs and toss them together quickly, then add the mushrooms and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Cook the pasta and when it is ready, sauté it together with the sauce. Serve immediately, possibly completing with chopped parsley.

Serves: 4