spaghetti squash - healthy alternative to pasta

bellaa_x0

for anyone who wants a healthier alternative to pasta, you MUST try spaghetti squash.

i just had it for the first time last night and loved it! just bake (whole) for about an hour in the oven at 375 F and separate the strands by running a fork through in the "from stem to stern" direction. top with some marinara sauce and enjoy!

averages approximately 40 calories per cup (plain)

sblackwood77

I have always wanted to try this squash, I think I will this weekend. is the squash low calorie & fat?

bellaa_x0

high in nutrients and low in carbs and calories!

bdburch

I've wanted to try it but I would have to get my husband on board. Does it actually taste like pasta or is it slightly different? Even slight differences in taste throw him off. I've slowly sneaked whole grain pasta into his food but it's taken a while to get us to the point where we're only using whole grain.

LeviLeDoux

I've baked spaghetti squash a few times, however I can never seem to get it soft enough for my tastes. Does anyone have any tips on how to get a less al dente consistency?

bellaa_x0

i thought it tasted pretty similar.. plus you don't feel as guilty eating 2 cups of it as if you were to eat 2 cups of pasta!

bellaa_x0

I've baked spaghetti squash a few times, however I can never seem to get it soft enough for my tastes. Does anyone have any tips on how to get a less al dente consistency?

how do you usually prepare yours?

JustJennie1

I love spaghetti squash.

No, it does NOT taste like spaghetti (to the person who asked). It's really rather bland and tasteless without pasta sauce (that's how I eat it). To the person asking how to get it less al dente, I cut it in half, place it on a lightly greased baking sheet face down. Pierce the skin with a fork a few times. Bake it at 350 for about 45 minutes. It's done when a fork can be inserted easily through the skin. When you scrape it out it shouldn't be that hard.

LeviLeDoux

I've baked spaghetti squash a few times, however I can never seem to get it soft enough for my tastes. Does anyone have any tips on how to get a less al dente consistency?

how do you usually prepare yours?

Baked at 375-400 for and hour in an inch of water. I've also tried slicing it into strips before cooking, but nothing seems to make a difference.

Laney2r

I love spaghetti squash. I don't always bake it though. If you poke holes in it with a fork you can also microwave it on high for 11 minutes. Just adjust slightly if you get a super small squash - I accidently exploded my last one.

Super yummy with basil pesto and chicken!

Now I think I will have to get one for next week!

BeckZombie

I've wanted to try it but I would have to get my husband on board. Does it actually taste like pasta or is it slightly different? Even slight differences in taste throw him off. I've slowly sneaked whole grain pasta into his food but it's taken a while to get us to the point where we're only using whole grain.

It doesn't taste like pasta, but I think it tastes delicious and it takes on all kinds of sauces well! I'm not even a huge squash fan, either. I'd try it, but I wouldn't tell him it's pasta or even a pasta replacement. Just tell him you're having squash for dinner.

LeviLeDoux

I love spaghetti squash.

No, it does NOT taste like spaghetti (to the person who asked). It's really rather bland and tasteless without pasta sauce (that's how I eat it). To the person asking how to get it less al dente, I cut it in half, place it on a lightly greased baking sheet face down. Pierce the skin with a fork a few times. Bake it at 350 for about 45 minutes. It's done when a fork can be inserted easily through the skin. When you scrape it out it shouldn't be that hard.

I've tried it this way, but it still maintains some crunch. I love the taste and it's great with my homemade tomato sauce, but I'd enjoy it more if I could get the strands to be less crunchy!

Joreanasaurous

I love speghetti squash, but it will never be a pasta replacement for me. Haha. It tastes nothing like pasta to me and pasta sauce on it grosses me out.

However some salt and pepper and some veggies.... Yum.

JustJennie1

I love spaghetti squash.

No, it does NOT taste like spaghetti (to the person who asked). It's really rather bland and tasteless without pasta sauce (that's how I eat it). To the person asking how to get it less al dente, I cut it in half, place it on a lightly greased baking sheet face down. Pierce the skin with a fork a few times. Bake it at 350 for about 45 minutes. It's done when a fork can be inserted easily through the skin. When you scrape it out it shouldn't be that hard.

I've tried it this way, but it still maintains some crunch. I love the taste and it's great with my homemade tomato sauce, but I'd enjoy it more if I could get the strands to be less crunchy!

I think it's supposed to be a bit on the crunchy side. You won't get it to be the consistency of pasta.

fruitloop2

I love speghetti squash! I steem mine for about 40 - 45 min and it comes out pretty soft. I cut it into quarters. I eat it on it's own as a veggie with some butter, salt and pepper and also use it as a speghetti.

LeviLeDoux

I love spaghetti squash.

No, it does NOT taste like spaghetti (to the person who asked). It's really rather bland and tasteless without pasta sauce (that's how I eat it). To the person asking how to get it less al dente, I cut it in half, place it on a lightly greased baking sheet face down. Pierce the skin with a fork a few times. Bake it at 350 for about 45 minutes. It's done when a fork can be inserted easily through the skin. When you scrape it out it shouldn't be that hard.

I've tried it this way, but it still maintains some crunch. I love the taste and it's great with my homemade tomato sauce, but I'd enjoy it more if I could get the strands to be less crunchy!

I think it's supposed to be a bit on the crunchy side. You won't get it to be the consistency of pasta.

That's what I was afraid of. I suppose I'll just have to enjoy it for the delicious, semi crunchy goodness that it is. Thank you guys for your tips. :flowerforyou:

honeyandmilk

I love spaghetti squash.

No, it does NOT taste like spaghetti (to the person who asked). It's really rather bland and tasteless without pasta sauce (that's how I eat it). To the person asking how to get it less al dente, I cut it in half, place it on a lightly greased baking sheet face down. Pierce the skin with a fork a few times. Bake it at 350 for about 45 minutes. It's done when a fork can be inserted easily through the skin. When you scrape it out it shouldn't be that hard.

I've tried it this way, but it still maintains some crunch. I love the taste and it's great with my homemade tomato sauce, but I'd enjoy it more if I could get the strands to be less crunchy!

I think it's supposed to be a bit on the crunchy side. You won't get it to be the consistency of pasta.

No, it's supposed to be soft. Just put it in for 10-15 extra minutes and it should get softer. Make sure you put the squash skin side up.
It'll never have the consistency of pasta because it's not a replacement for it. It's delicious in its own way, but if you're craving pasta, spaghetti squash won't, ahem, squash that craving. I only eat it when I WANT spaghetti squash, not when I want pasta.

KarenJean91

I always wondered how to make it, thanks!!

Juliane_

There's a quicker way to cook Spaghetti squash. Just pierce the squash with a knife about 8 times all around. You place the squash in a bowl and microwave 5 minutes, turn and microwave 5 minutes more. You then careful take it out of the oven and split open to remove the "strands" with a fork. I love this stuff with grilled chicken, mozzarella cheese melted and pasta sauce. Yummo! and low in calories. It definately reduces my cravings for pasta. I'm more addicted to the melted cheese then the pasta.

ladybuggprincess99

I've wanted to try it but I would have to get my husband on board. Does it actually taste like pasta or is it slightly different? Even slight differences in taste throw him off. I've slowly sneaked whole grain pasta into his food but it's taken a while to get us to the point where we're only using whole grain.

If you're like us, mine doesn't. So, I cook BOTH. I make sure to just make enough for him and the kids, then I make spag. squash foy myself.

junip1977

Thsi is one of my favorite ways to eat Spaghetti Squash and it is very filling, I think just as much as pasta is. I notice that I have to cook mine for 1- 1 1/2 hours to get a softer texture. Also, stabbing holes into the squash before you bake it, like you do a potato.

waldo56

Pasta is not unhealthy.

It is a fine source of carbs. If you do a lot of high output physical activity, a high carb diet is ideal, and pasta is a great choice.

Too many carbs isn't a good thing if you are sedentary, for those people pasta should be avoided. However a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy, eating spaghetti squash isn't going to fix that. High output exercise is a necessary component of being healthy.

BeckZombie

Pasta is not unhealthy.

It is a fine source of carbs. If you do a lot of high output physical activity, a high carb diet is ideal, and pasta is a great choice.

Too many carbs isn't a good thing if you are sedentary, for those people pasta should be avoided. However a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy, eating spaghetti squash isn't going to fix that. High output exercise is a necessary component of being healthy.

This is true, but I'm one of those people who likes to eat a LOT of pasta. It's one of those foods I find it hard not to binge on. It's 200 calories for a TINY serving, and that's without added meat or sauce. I still eat it, but when I want a lot of food, I turn toward spaghetti squash.

bellaa_x0

Pasta is not unhealthy.

It is a fine source of carbs. If you do a lot of high output physical activity, a high carb diet is ideal, and pasta is a great choice.

Too many carbs isn't a good thing if you are sedentary, for those people pasta should be avoided. However a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy, eating spaghetti squash isn't going to fix that. High output exercise is a necessary component of being healthy.

nobody is saying its UN-healthy, but if you compare the calories in a serving of pasta vs. spaghetti squash for some people its a good alternative. plus pasta kills eating light in the evenings for me so this is a better option for me personally.

neanderthin

I've been consuming spaghetti squash for years and I love it, but it isn't a replacement for pasta imo.