ADVICE RE SPAGHETTI SQUASH.

SandyAnnP

Hi! I have read on MFP about how great this food is. Unable to buy them here where we live in Australia so I bought seeds online. Our 2 plants have gone crazy and I have several squash and you can almost see them growing.They are getting quite big now. When do I pick them? do I need to wait until the vine dies down? I read somewhere that they can be boiled or baked then use a fork to get the strands to use like pasta. Hubs even liked the idea of just butter and pepper on them! I think someone said that the cooked strands can be frozen successfully? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!:happy:

zentha1384

I know nothing about picking them but as far as cooking them

Baking is pretty easy and yes you just have to run a fork up and down to get the strings out. Freezing the cooked strains should work great. They have a little sweeter flavor that I'm not fond of for pasta and the texture is way different but it can work.

Corjogo

How great you got them to grow. Perhaps you could get harvesting tips on line...I have gotten lots of information searching on line. Have a very small garden - tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, lettuce, zucchini, crook neck squash, and 2 kinds of melons (last year) have snap peas in now. Plus lots of herbs.
Found this on line...
Harvest spaghetti squash when the fruits develop a deep golden color. Spaghetti squash may be harvested when the plant changes color from green to white through the summer, and then from white to yellow as the fall approaches. Spaghetti squash can be harvested anytime after the fruit has turned yellow, however, waiting for the deep golden coloration to develop will result in a more flavorful squash.

Read more: When to Harvest Spaghetti Squash? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_7961845_harvest-spaghetti-squash.html#ixzz2FncraEph

bluelena

I can't help with regard to when to pick them, but they're super easy to cook! I cut them in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds , and put the halves cut-side down in a baking pan. I put some water in the pan, and roast in the oven at 425 until I can get the tip of a knife through the outer skin. (Watch the water, it may boil away while cooking so you may need to add more). Once they cool, just run a fork through the flesh and voila! spaghetti squash strands! You're right, it's good with just a bit of butter and pepper - I add parmesan cheese too.

Skinnytaste.com has a recipe that adds pesto to the strands, and it is SO GOOD.

1258936

I love squash of all kinds. The easiest way ever to cook them? Take your squash and stab it a few times all over. Put the entire thing in your crockpot with about a cup of water. Cook on high for 4-6 until very soft. Allow to cool for a hour or two. I usually set it to cook overnight and let it sit and cool until the afternoon. Carefully remove it, I cradle it with my fingers. It will slice in half (vertically) very easily and the "meat" of the squash will scrape off the skin very easily. Scoop out the seeds and cook any way you like. I like to use it as the noodles for spaghetti, or just eat with salt and butter. Maybe add a little parmesan cheese.
I use the same method for butternut squash, and my fav way to eat butternut squash is in a chicken soup. It will "melt" into the liquid and act as a sweet thickener.
Have fun and enjoy!

My mother is a little radical but she eats the entire thing, skin and all, using this method (minus the stalk).
The slow cooker is great for all kinds of veggies, potatoes, roots, this year I tried pie pumpkins, utterly delish.

Mina133842

Actually got this recipe from someone else on MFP over a year ago, but have tweaked some of it for my family. Hope you enjoy as much as we do!


Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

1 Spaghetti Squash
1 jar Marinara (or your favorite spaghetti sauce)
1/2 pkg cottage cheese (16 oz)
4 cups mozzarella (this depends on how much cheese you want - we use a lot)
1 pkg Jenni-o Italian seasoned ground turkey or Italian turkey sausage (or I use 1 pkg ground turkey with Italian seasonings {from Costco} sprinkled on it)

Cut the squash length wise and scoop out seeds and strings (I use an ice cream scoop - it makes it much easier)
Spray cookie sheet with Pam, place cut down and bake at 350 for about 40-45 mins.
Take out of the oven, flip them over to cool
While cooling...
Brown Ground Turkey drain off fat
Add Marinara
Add cottage cheese
Then scrape a fork across the Squash to make "spaghetti like strands" careful they may still be hot (I just dump in the squash after using the ice cream scoop)
Place in a large bowl (I usually just mix it all in the skillet - just use a LARGE skillet)
Add the sauce mixture and mix together

In a 9x13 pan add half the mixture and sprinkle with mozzarella (how much depends on how cheesy or how calorie laden you want the dish...I use about a 1/2-1 cup on each layer) Sprinkle with Parmesan
Add the other half of the Squash mixture, Mozzarella and Parmesan.
Bake at 350 until bubbly and cheese has melted.

Note: there will be "water" in the bottom of the pan as I think it's from the squash's natural moisture... just let it drain a bit before placing on your plate or in your bowl.


Sorry, I don't know the actual calorie count- as it depends on how much sauce, cheese, etc you use, and I kind of dump/wing it each time...


I know it's not answering your question, but it's a yummy recipe! Good luck!

SandyAnnP

Thanks so much everyone for your advice.

Janelle173

bump for later-love spaghetti squash but only cooked it once years ago!! thank you for the thread! and that is awesome that you got it to grow and so many!!!

Keto_T

I just made taco meat with tomatoes and refried beans. I added spaghetti squash (about half and half) to get in some extra veggies and cut calories. I couldnt taste the squash-the flavor of the taco spices and peppers took over. It was good with tortilla chips.

SandyAnnP

Well we waited for one to turn/pale yellow, and hubs picked it this morning. OMG it weighs 3.8 kilos - that is almost 8.5 lbs. I hope we haven't grown it too big, and also that we like it. We do like other squash veggies so here's hoping.