If you’re like most people, you probably have dinner entrees on rotation every month and rotate them regularly. While it’s great to cook and eat the foods you and your family love, there’s really nothing like trying new ingredients, recipes and flavors to keep you happy on a weeknight. If you want to be full of flavor, then making seasonal produce the focal point of your meal is a great option.
As winter approaches, you may want to add Italian butternut squash to your delicious comfort dishes. When cooked, this sturdy vegetable softens and the flesh inside easily turns into thin ribbons, just like the pasta it’s named after. If you don’t eat gluten or watch your carbohydrate intake, this will make it an excellent pasta substitute. Even if you’re just looking for new ways to incorporate fresh vegetables into your dinner plan, you’ll find spaghetti squash both filling and soothing. These spaghetti squash dishes can help you reach that goal.
What are the health benefits of spaghetti squash?
This brightly colored food is a yellow winter squash that is rich in potassium, beta-carotene and vitamin a. It is at its best in the winter season for flavor. It is also rich in fiber, making it a good digestive vegetable that will keep you feeling full and satisfied for hours after eating. The vitamin C in spaghetti squash helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. In addition, nine of its important minerals are beneficial for bone health.
With only about 40 calories per cup, cooked spaghetti squash is a low-calorie alternative to typical pasta. And, because this vegetable is so adaptable, you can cook it in a variety of ways, allowing you to try new flavors as often as you like the fact that your weeknight dinners are now healthier and fresher.
Shark fin squash roast
Are you ready to learn how to make delicious spaghetti squash? This easy Skinnytaste recipe takes just minutes to prepare and showcases the rich flavor of this vegetable, while also serving as a great base for adding other ingredients.
First, pick up your spaghetti squash and pierce its flesh with a fork. Once you’ve done this, you’re almost halfway through the recipe! Place half of the squash into your Instant Pot and add half a cup of water or chicken broth to complete the cooking process. Once you seal the container, simply press the slow cook function button.
Then you can relax and wait, or prepare the rest of the recipe. Within minutes, you’ll have soft and delicious Italian butternut squash. Let the squash cool for 15 minutes, then cut it in half lengthwise, remove it from the skin and chop the flesh with a fork.
Spaghetti squash with asparagus, mushroom and pesto salsa
Would you like to make spaghetti squash with your spaghetti squash? Follow Tasty’s recipe to make a delicious feast in less than an hour. Before brushing the flesh with oil, you’ll cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out all the seeds. Then roast at 400 degrees F until half tender. You can gently pull the cooked pumpkin flesh out of the shell with a fork, which is a successful way to get the right size pumpkin ribbons. The most delicate spaghetti-like ribbons are usually made from the thin tines of a dinner fork.
While the pumpkin is roasting, prepare pesto in a pan with sautéing mushrooms and asparagus. The Ninja Pro Blender will help you make a smooth and delicious pesto sauce with basil, olive oil, parmesan cheese, garlic, pine nuts and salt.
In a pan, after the sauce and pumpkin have cooked, combine the pasta, vegetables and pesto. Place the mixture back into the pumpkin shells for a more appealing look. Do not crush the pumpkin, it makes for easier cleanup. Pour half of the squash directly into the “bowl”, double it, and pour in the pasta sauce and cooked vegetable combination. When it’s time to eat, shred the squash. Imagine having a healthy dinner without having to wash dishes anymore!
Broccoli Lasagna with Butternut Squash Pasta
Lasagna is a traditional dinner favorite, but the preparation and cooking process can take hours to get to the table. Make lasagna with spaghetti squash to make your dinner easier to prepare. This delicious meal from Eat Well can help you achieve your goals.
First, cut your zucchini in half and microwave them in a dish of water to soften them. If you want some hands-free cooking time, you can also cut them in half and bake them on a baking sheet. When they are cool enough to hold, use a fork to take out the softened squash and set it aside. To make the stuffing, sauté chopped broccoli until they are tender, seasoning them with pepper, salt and garlic. You’ll also want to preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
After that, it’s time to put together the little lasagna noodles. Put the mozzarella and parmesan in a mixing tray; you can add other kinds of cheese if you like, but make sure they are grated and easy to melt. Fill each half-empty pumpkin with the cheese mixture. After that, add the cooked broccoli and seasonings. Finally, sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and bake until golden brown.
Spaghetti Squash with Three Cheese Black Crusted Cheese
This recipe from Food Network can help you overcome mealtime challenges by adding a little cheese to your food. One of the best ways to warm up with delicious food is to combine the smooth, rich flavor of classic Italian pasta with black pepper cheese with nutritious spaghetti squash and three delicious cheeses.
For this recipe, it’s a good idea to get a good cheese grater. Otherwise, your cheese may not mix together as evenly as the sauce. You can also buy high-quality fresh cheese. While pre-grated Parmesan is quicker to make, it lacks the creamy, rich texture of shaved aged Parmesan, the kind with no added preservatives or anti-caking chemicals.
To prepare this delicious, salty, flavorful dish, cut your zucchini in half, season it, grill it, and then shred it with a fork to make your “pasta”. Before removing from the heat, sauté the squash strips in a heated skillet. After the pasta has cooled for a few minutes, mascarpone cheese is added and topped with parmesan and pecorino cheese. Not to mention a thick layer of black pepper – that’s the “black pepper” that brings the dish to life!