How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

Knowing how to cook Spaghetti squash is important because it’s quite daunting if you’ve never done it. You won’t believe how easy it is with this step-by-step guide, and you’ll be using it in all sorts of recipes.

Put away your Spiralizer, my friends! This variety of winter squash is naturally spiralized — when it’s cooked, the flesh loosens and has a texture and appearance like that of spaghetti.

What is spaghetti squash?

• It’s simply squash that’s shaped like spaghetti when it’s cooked. Sometimes called Vegetable Spaghetti, you can certainly serve Spaghetti Squash as a gluten-free spaghetti substitute — but, please do not think it’s at all the same thing.
• Spaghetti squash is a winter squash variety that’s in the same family with pumpkins, zucchini, and gourds.

What does it taste like?

While nothing like a glutenous noodle, its texture is quite lovely — soft with a slight crunch. It has a very subtle nut-like flavor, but it’s fairly bland otherwise.

What goes well with spaghetti squash?

Since its flavor is mild, spaghetti squash can take on a lot of other flavors. I think it’s great with dark leafy greens and meaty and cheesy sauces. It’s typically served warm, but could also offer a lovely, unique crunch to a salad.

Now let’s learn how to cut spaghetti squash, remove the seeds and bake it . . .

How to Cut Spaghetti Squash

– Cut about an inch off of the stem end of the squash.

– Place the squash on the base you’ve just made and use slice down the center, vertically.

How to Clean Spaghetti Squash (Remove the Seeds)

– Use a large spoon to gently scrape out the seeds from both halves. (Don’t worry about the stringy insides left from the seeds.)

How to Bake the Squash

– Drizzle a bit of olive oil on a baking sheet and place both halves of the squash on top, round side up.

– Roast in a 400°F oven until they’re very soft. Carefully turn the squash over to let them cool for a few minutes.

– Use a fork to very gently pull the flesh away from the skin.

– The squash will naturally pull away from the sides in strings.

Recipes using spaghetti squash:

Spinach-Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Tomato-Spinach Pesto Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Spaghetti squash is one of those foods, like a pear cactus or a cherimoya, that might be daunting to deal with if you haven’t ever eaten one, or cooked one before.  You’ll see though, that it’s actually quite easy.

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