besides just cooking a spaghetti squash, what can I do with it?

[ProudGrandma]

I have never made one of these before...so I really have no clue how to make it taste good.   Please help me.

 

thanks.

[skimomma]

We love spaghetti squash here.  Just baked, scooped out, and mixed with butter, salt, and pepper, perhaps fresh garlic too, is great.  But I recently discovered my new favorite way.

 

Again, you start with cutting it in half, taking the seeds out, and baking it.  Once it is done, scoop out the squash and mix it up with a small amount of slightly undercooked pasta shapes.  I use whole wheat twists or penne or something kind of robust.  Add whatever you like, for me that is some shredded mozz cheese, cut up fresh tomatoes, fresh parsley, olive oil, red pepper flakes, fresh garlic, salt, and pepper.  I mix that all up and dump it into a casserole dish and top with parm cheese and bake until heated.  My family's one complaint about spaghetti squash is that is can be kind of slimy.  The undercooked pasta dries it out a bit and makes it into a sliceable casserole which seems to be a big winner here.

[Pam in CT]

My favorite way is to halve & scoop it, plonk it in a pan with 1/2" of water, slightly undercook it so the strands are still distinct, immerse it in cold water to stop it from cooking further, then quickly remove & separate the strands (it'll look sort of translucent, like rice noodles).  Toss with olive oil and cumin, top with cilantro and toasted almonds.  Mmmmmm......

 

 

 

 

 

 

ETA just saw ski momma re slimy.  Yes, drain thoroughly before adding oil and cumin, that helps.

Edited October 5, 2016 by Pam in CT

[SparklyUnicorn]

Throw it off a high place and watch it splat.

 

I dunno, I have tried to like spaghetti squash, but nope.  I don't.  And I like most squash in general.  The texture is just dumb. 

 

[wendyroo]

We like it "regular" (baked and tossed with butter, salt and pepper) or "cheesy":  Twice-Baked Spaghetti Squash with Pesto and Parmesan.

 

Wendy

[Tammi K]

I bake it ( great suggestions above) and top with a sausage/garlic type gravy/sauce. 

[Cinder]

I shared this recipe in another squash thread. Fair warning: the squash is really hard to cut through. But once you get that squared away the recipe is pretty easy and quite delicious.

[skimomma]

I keep jack-o-lantern tools in my kitchen year-round for cutting squash.  It really is the only way for me to cut a squash without breaking out the chainsaw.

[Tangerine]

Also, the strands run around the squash, so if you want long strands, cut the squash through the middle (crosswise between the stem ends, not lengthwise).

[happi duck]

Throw it off a high place and watch it splat.

 

I dunno, I have tried to like spaghetti squash, but nope. I don't. And I like most squash in general. The texture is just dumb.

:)

 

I stopped by this thread to suggest using it as a doorstop but watching it splat sounds like more fun!

[Katy]

The only way I've remotely liked it is with butter and garlic salt, but since I stopped eating butter...

 

Seriously, I'd throw it in the compost.  I like all other squashes, but that one is just... wrong.  I hate it the way DH hates slimy things like okra or salsa verde.

[Erica in OR]

We use it as a base—top it with alfredo sauce, grilled chicken, and steamed broccoli.

 

Erica in OR

[skimomma]

Not sure how old your kids are, but if you keep the shell intact after scooping the squash out, dry the halves in the sun.  They make great fairy houses.

[nomadtheworld]

We love spaghetti squash over here! We like to use the squash as a substitute for noodles when we make spaghetti, yumm. 

Edited October 6, 2016 by nomadtheworld

[BarbecueMom]

Sub the spaghetti squash for hashbrowns in one of those deliciously unhealthy ham and cheese casseroles.

[kewb]

I've used spaghetti squash to make a crust for pizza. It was pretty tasty.

 

Usually I just bake it and toss with sauce or butter.

[AnthemLights]

We love spaghetti squash at our house and only ever make it one way.

 

Bake it, hollow it out.  Then layer the spaghetti with tomato sauce, basil, oregano (whatever pizza seasonings you like), raw bacon and mozarella cheese.

 

As the bacon cooks it flavors the spaghetti.  Add the mozarella cheese at the end so that the bacon can crisp.  

 

Not sure what the calorie intake would be, but I make this a lot when we go low carb.

[shawthorne44]

laughing cow cheese.  

Bake it then fork out the strands.  Throw some laughing cow cheese in a saucepan and mix in the sp. squash strands and cook to melt the cheese into a sauce.  I hate most veggies but like this.  

[laundrycrisis]

I stab it, and nuke it until it's easy to cut open.  Then I scoop out the seeds and nuke it some more facing down over a shallow dish of water, so it finishes cooking with steam.  I stop when it's easy to shred it into noodles with a fork, but the noodles are still a little crunchy. We like it best with the pesto from Costco, and maybe some fresh tomatoes/mushrooms/basil.  

[KarenNC]

My favorite way is to mix the strands with butter, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. I don't find it slimy at all (and I'm one who despises okra, oysters, and other slimy foods).

Edited October 6, 2016 by KarenNC

[Lizzie in Ma]

I make lasagna with it instead of noodles, it is one of our favorite meals.

[shawthorne44]

My favorite way is to mix the strands with butter, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. I don't find it slimy at all (and I'm one who despises okra, oysters, and other slimy foods).

I don't either.  It must be how it is cooked.  

[AppleGreen]

I make this: 

 

http://paleomg.com/sneak-peek-recipe-from-juli-bauers-paleo-cookbook-buffalo-chicken-casserole/  Can't wait for tomorrow's dinner! Yum  :drool5:

I think spaghetti squash  work pretty well as a sub for noodles in most pasta dishes (spaghetti pie, lasagna etc.).

[Clear Creek]

I make this: 

 

http://paleomg.com/sneak-peek-recipe-from-juli-bauers-paleo-cookbook-buffalo-chicken-casserole/  Can't wait for tomorrow's dinner! Yum  :drool5:

I think spaghetti squash  work pretty well as a sub for noodles in most pasta dishes (spaghetti pie, lasagna etc.).

 

I was just going to post the same recipe! Definitely a family favorite here, and I have picky kids who dislike zucchini and summer squash and anything similar.

 

I usually make it with shredded pre-cooked chicken and hot wing sauce instead of hot sauce.