10 Ways to Use Spaghetti Squash
© David Malosh
Spaghetti squash has all kinds of clever applications in a wide variety of dishes. When cooked, the flesh of this hearty yellow squash can be pulled into noodle-like shreds, adding texture and taking on the flavor of whatever it's tossed with in any given recipe.
To cook the squash before adding it to a dish, halve it lengthwise, remove the seeds, and brush the cut side with olive oil. Then roast it cut-side down on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven until soft. Rake the squash into strands and use it in these 10 genius ways.
Bolognese
Top the strands with any meat sauce or with tomato sauce and meatballs.
Carbonara
For a variation on this famous pasta dish, toss the squash with crisp bacon or pancetta, peas, and olive oil, and top with a fried egg.
Pad Thai
Instead of noodles, stir-fry the squash in any pad Thai recipe.
Kugel
Add the squash to kugel in place of the noodles.
Squash and cheese
Instead of or in addition to pasta, add the cooked squash strands to your favorite mac and cheese recipe.
RELATED: Our 26 Best Butternut Squash Recipes
Fried squash
Substitute it for cooked rice in any fried rice recipe.
Salad
Toss the squash with almonds, feta, and a lemon-olive dressing for a fresh take on pasta salad.
Frittata
Add the cooled strands to beaten eggs to make a hearty frittata; swirl in some pesto to make it even more delicious.
Toasts
Make a squash and chickpea curry to serve over toasts as a hearty vegetarian dish.
Stuffed
Instead of eggplant, stuff the cooked squash with ground lamb and pine nuts or sautéed mushrooms.
