Although it doesn’t taste like exactly like spaghetti or angel hair pasta because it’s a vegetable, it’s close enough for me. It’s value-eating at its finest, packing lots of fiber to leave you satisfied, with minimal calories. I treat it like a blank canvas and pair it with any number of other spices and seasonings, sauces, dressings, butter or oil; and with other vegetables and proteins. So versatile and easy to prepare if you use the whole-roasting method. below. Plus no need to add fat or oil since the squash is it’s own steaming unit. Try any of the 12 sample recipes outlined in the blog post for serving suggestions.
2medium/large spaghetti squashabout 3 pounds each, washed and patted dry (I like to roast a pair for planned leftovers for the week; roast only 1 if preferred)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375F.
Place squash in front of you so the ends are pointing to the left and right. Using a heavy, large knife, hack into the squash in 3 or 4 spots so your knife just pierces the surface by about 1/4-inch deep, and it should leave approximately 2-inch long knife marks. These are places for steam to escape, like you’d pierce a potato before baking. You’re not actually slicing the squash, but just creating steam escapes. I find this is safer than piercing the squash with the tip of my knife. Turn the squash over and repeat, for a total of about 8 slits. Repeat for second squash.
Place squash on baking sheet (I line my with a Silpat) and bake for about 45 to 60 minutes for 1 squash, or about 80 to 90 minutes for two. When done, squash should have quite a bit of give when pushed on, and slicing through it will be easy. Allow squash to cool on baking tray until it’s cool enough to handle.
Tip – Wearing a pair of rubber kitchen gloves is a lifesaver here. Using a large serrated knife, slice squash vertically from tip to end.
Run your knife around the center strip of seeds and filaments to loosen it. Remove it and discard it.
With a fork, loosen the strands of squash in a raking motion. They will peel up easily. I try to rake up as many noodles as possible, going as far down to the skin as I can. Place noodles in an airtight container. Discard skins.
Serve as desired, including using some of recipe ideas provided in the blog post. Noodles will keep airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheating 1 serving for about 1 minute in a microwave-safe bowl covered with plastic wrap is the fastest and easiest method.