Spagetti Squash

[Lost Dog]

I know you're saying yuck to the squash part, but this was surprisingly tasty and satisfying. Very much like spagetti.

If you haven't had it, after cooking, running a fork through it, turns the squash into thin, spagetti-like strands. Perfect for a sauce.

Thanks to Mike Roussell for reminding me that this stuff exists.

You can use any sauce, really. Here's the one I whipped up with what I had in the pantry and fridge.

Serves 2?

1/2 spagetti squash
1/2 lb ground turkey
2 tsp olive oil
2 med red onion, chopped
2 clove garlic, minced
1 can of whole tomatos (28oz can)
2 zucchini, diced
2 tsp oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp chopped italian parsley (if it's dried, like an herb, just throw the jar out and do yourself a favor)

Cut the squash in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds. MIcrowave on high for 8-12 minutes, cut side up. No need to cover it, really. While the squash is cooking, make the sauce.

Heat saucepan. Add oil. Add onion. Stir until softened. Add ground turkey and cook until it's browned a bit. Add garlic and cook another 2 minutes.

Add tomatoes and juices. Break up tomatoes with the spoon. Bring to a simmer and stir in the zucchini. Stir in the oregano.

Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, until sauce has thickened. Salt and pepper to taste.

Using a fork, separate the squash into the strands, placing the strands into a large bowl. When done, add the sauce and gently toss.

Sprinkle with the parsley, if desired. Top with parmesan, if desired. Eat.

[BamaDave]

Spaghetti squash is great - but I also tend to forget that it exists!! I even grew some last Summer -- a smaller variety that was a single-serving size.

I'm weird, though - I'm perfectly happy to eat meat sauce over a bed of broccoli!

[Lost Dog]

I'm with you on the sauce and veggies. A lot of time I make sauce or stir-fry and just have more veggies with it.

[gobbla]

looks good man. spagetti squash is deffinately high on the list of tasty vegi's.

[Lost Dog]

__________________
Mom’s are delicious.

[gobbla]

that's my tribute to the JP vixens.

[Lost Dog]

yes. that's it, I'm sure.

[RobLL]

A problem I have with spaghetti squash is not having found the essential ingredients to go with it. My suspician at this point is that meat is the key. I have had it with my veggie marinara, with browned butter and Romano. It just seems to lack something. And I really don't want to make a meat sauce when I am serving it as a side dish to steak or something.

[Lost Dog]

Try diced eggplant or mushrooms, instead of meat. Maybe some black olives, too.

[RobLL]

mushroom and/or olives sounds great

[Michael Roussell]

Yeah Spagetti Squash! Nice work LD making the JP crew aware of spagetti squash

[SpacecityPaula]

Bump since I just bought one of these to try. I was hoping y'all had posted something about it before.

[Mark57]

I like to roast mine in a 450 oven for about 40 min, it seems to bring out more flavor than the microwave. I cook a couple at a time and then put individual servings in zip lock baggies in the freezer. I pull one out when I fix pasta for the wife and kids, tastes great smothered in meat sauce.

[RedWifey]

Originally Posted by Mark57

I like to roast mine in a 450 oven for about 40 min, it seems to bring out more flavor than the microwave. I cook a couple at a time and then put individual servings in zip lock baggies in the freezer. I pull one out when I fix pasta for the wife and kids, tastes great smothered in meat sauce.

Do you cut it before you roast it or do you roast it whole? I would love to do this ahead of time as it suits me just fine, but RL and the kiddos prefer ww pasta instead. Thanks for the tip.

[Mark57]

I cut them in half, scrape out the seeds, and lay them cut side down on a baking sheet, and add a cup or so of water to the pan.

[RedWifey]

Done! It's in the oven! Thanks, Mark!

[Mark57]

Well? How'd it turn out? I like it right out of the oven with a little butter and salt, too.

[RedWifey]

It was soooo much more cooked than boiling it in water. SOOO much easier to scrape it out. I didn't taste it as I was just cooking ahead today, but I got three bags in the freezer. Thanks!!

[UConnJulie]

I had this last night for dinner and again for lunch today. Last night I had it with tomato sauce and chicken sausage. Today I had it with butter and freshly grated parmesean.

I did microwave it as I was short on time ... I left it whole with just a few knife punctures. I had planned to cut it in half before cooking, but I couldn't get my very sharp knife to cut it, and didn't want to risk losing a finger or more!

It was YUMMY!!!