Spaghetti Squash Italiano Food

ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Pour water in baking dish and place halved squash cut-sides down in the dish.
• Bake squash in preheated oven until a fork pierces the skin very easily, about 45 minutes. Let squash cook while preparing remainder of recipe.
• Melt butter with olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion in hot butter until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and continue to saute until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Pour diced tomatoes over the onion mixture; season with basil. Place a cover on the skillet, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until the tomatoes are soft, about 30 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Once squash is cool enough to handle, use a fork to strip flesh from the skin in strands. Stir squash and Parmesan cheese into tomato mixture. Replace cover on skillet and cook until squash is heated through, 5 to 10 minutes more. Sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese over the dish to serve.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH ITALIANO

Steps:

• Pierce squash several times with tip of sharp knife or fork to allow steam to escape. Place squash in shallow microwaveable dish. Microwave on HIGH 10 to 15 min. or just until squash is softened, turning every 5 min. Set aside.
• Heat oven to 475ºF. Crumble sausage into large nonstick skillet; cook on medium-high heat 2 min. or until evenly browned, stirring frequently. Stir in onions; cook and stir 5 min. Add peppers and garlic; cook 5 min., stirring occasionally.
• Cut squash in half; remove and discard seeds. Scoop out squash strands. Add to sausage mixture; mix lightly. Stir in pasta sauce. Spoon into 2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; cover.
• Bake 20 to 25 min. or until heated through. Meanwhile, combine cheese and parsley.
• Sprinkle cheese mixture over squash. Bake, uncovered, 5 min. or until cheese is melted.

ITALIAN-STYLE SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Prick squash skin all over. Rub cut sides of the halved garlic over the flesh. Lightly brush each squash half with some olive oil. Place cut side-down in a 3-quart baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender, 45 to 60 minutes. Let cool until easily handled. Separate the squash flesh into strands using a fork. Leave strands in the shells.
• Divide mozzarella cheese between the shells. Toss lightly. Press mixture up the sides of the shells.
• Combine remaining olive oil, tomatoes, pine nuts, green onions, basil, and minced garlic in a bowl. Divide tomato mixture between the shells. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Return squash halves to the baking dish.
• Continue baking until filling is heated through, about 20 minutes.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH ITALIANO

Steps:

• Halve squash lengthwise and remove the seeds.
• Prick skin all over.
• Place halves, cut side down, in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish.
• Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes or till tender.
• Using a fork, separate the squash pulp into strands, leaving strands in shell.
• Sprinkle 1/4 of the mozzarella cheese in each shell; toss lightly.
• Press mixture up the sides of the shell.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl combine tomatoes, green onions, nuts, basil or parsley, oil, and garlic.
• Spoon 1/4 of the tomato mixture into each shell.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Return to baking dish.
• Return to oven and bake, uncovered, about 20 minutes or till filling is heated through.

ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Halve squash lengthwise; discard seeds. Fill with tomatoes and mushrooms; sprinkle with seasonings. Place in an oval 7-qt. slow cooker, tilting 1 slightly to fit., Cook, covered, on low until squash is tender, 6-8 hours. Sprinkle with cheese. Cook, covered, on low until cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes. To serve, cut each half into 2 portions.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND SAUTEED VEGGIES

Steps:

• Pierce squash all over with the tip of sharp knife. Put in a microwave-safe dish and microwave 15 minutes on high, or until slightly soft. Let cool 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle, then cut in half crosswise, scoop out and discard seeds. Flesh will be in long spaghetti-like strands.
• Scoop squash into large bowl and season with butter, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. This stage alone yields a delicious side dish.
• While squash cooks and cools, make your sausage and peppers.
• Slice red bell pepper and red onion into lengthwise strips. You may need to cut the pepper strips in half to be fork-size.
• Heat 1 T olive oil in a large non-stick pan over med-high heat. Squeeze sausage out of casings in little meat balls and fry until browned and cooked through. You may need to do this in two batches depending on the size of your pan. Remove sausage and set aside to keep warm.
• Toss peppers and onions into pan. Cook until softened. You may need to add a bit more oil, or a few tablespoons of wine to deglaze the pan. When vegetables are about 2 minutes away from being done, add minced garlic to pan and heat till fragrant. Then return sausage to pan and add several handfuls of spinach. Toss to coat spinach until just wilted and sausage is reheated.
• Serve immediately over prepared squash. If you can tolerate dairy, I'm sure fresh parmesan would be great, but it was already delicious without it.