Spaghetti squash is delicious on its own or as an alternative to traditional wheat spaghetti and other fatty starches. The bright yellow color indicates that its packed with nutrition while also being incredibly flavorful and filling. Cooking spaghetti squash is even easier than boiling pasta with these simple tips.
Roasting is the Way to Go
While spaghetti squash can be boiled on the stove or cooked it in the microwave, the easiest and most flavorful way to cook it is by roasting it. It only takes about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the squash, making it a quick weeknight meal idea. To roast the spaghetti squash:
- Rinse the outside of the spaghetti squash well and pat it dry.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise.
- Scrape out the seeds in the center with a large spoon and discard them.
- Drizzle each half with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Place the spaghetti squash, flesh-side down, onto a greased baking sheet.
- Place into a 375 degree preheated oven and bake for 30-45 minutes, or until fork tender.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes.
- Once it’s cool enough to handle, use a fork to shred the flesh into spaghetti-like strands.
Serving it Up
Spaghetti squash can be used just like traditional spaghetti, served with a favorite marinara or meat sauce. It can also be drizzled with a garlicky butter sauce, topped with a creamy Alfredo sauce, or used as a breakfast boat by baking a cracked egg inside of it. It’s also great to use in baked dishes as a healthier alternative to pasta. The possibilities really are endless when it comes to uses for spaghetti squash.
Health Benefits
Not only is spaghetti squash lower in fat and calories than pasta and other starches, it’s also rich in fiber and packed with minerals like potassium, manganese, calcium, iron, and zinc. It’s truly a super food with vitamins A, C, and K running abundant throughout, in addition to other essential vitamins like riboflavin, beta carotene, and folic acid. Those types of health benefits are hard to find in a regular cardboard box of wheat spaghetti.