Spaghetti Squash
with
Keith Dunlop
Shake up your vegetable side dish by adding spaghetti squash. This versatile veggie has a delicate, sweet flavor and can be prepared with a multitude of ingredients.
Transcript: Spaghetti Squash
Hi, I am Keith Dunlop and welcome to About.com. While it is technically a member of the squash family, the spaghetti squash is like no other squash you have ever seen or tasted.When it is cooked, the flesh falls away in long, spaghetti like ribbons that have a light crunch and a delicate, slightly sweet flavor.
Ingredients Needed to Make Spaghetti Squash
To make spaghetti squash, you will need:- 1 spaghetti squash -- At the supermarket, look for one that feels heavy, proportionate to its size
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons pesto
- 1 tomato, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Cut the Spaghetti Squash in Half
Start off by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.Preparation-wise, the first thing we have to do is cut the squash in half, length wise. Grab one of your heavier knives and carefully go in from the top, then cut away from your hand to one end.
Then turn the squash around and finish the job on the other side. Don't worry about presentation here; we won't be using the tough outer hulls.
Remove the Seeds From the Squash
Now, you will notice that spaghetti squash has those big old pumpkin-like seeds and stringy fibers in the center. These have to go.So just take a large metal spoon and scrape them out. If you wish, you can separate the seeds and bake them, just like pumpkin seeds.
Bake the Spaghetti Squash
At this point, your spaghetti squash is ready to bake. Drizzle your olive oil on a foil-lined cookie sheet or baking dish, and place your halves face down.Place them in your preheated oven and bake for about 45 minutes to an hour, until the outside skin can be easily pierced with the sharp point of a knife.
Scrape the Inside of the Spaghetti Squash
When they are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool for 5 to 10 minutes. When they are cool enough to be picked up, take a fork and scrape out the insides into a large bowl. See, long, spaghetti like ribbons, hence the name.Combine the Ingredients
Add your butter, pesto, cheese, tomatoes and a little salt and pepper and toss. I have really punched up this batch of spaghetti squash with the pesto, the tomatoes and the cheese.But all it takes is just some butter a salt and pepper for the flavor to shine. Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the web at About.com.