Spaghetti Squash Paleo Friendly Alfredo Sauce Food

SPAGHETTI SQUASH PASTA WITH GARLICKY ALFREDO SAUCE

Steps:

• SPAGHETTI SQUASH: Cook your spaghetti squash using our oven method or Instant Pot method. Once slightly cooled, fluff with a fork to make it stringy. Then measure out roughly 4 cups spaghetti squash (as the original recipe is written // alter as needed if adjusting serving size) and set aside.
• SAUCE: In the meantime, prepare sauce by soaking raw cashews in very hot water for ~15 minutes.
• After the 15 minutes are up, drain and rinse cashews and add to a small blender. Add remaining sauce ingredients (garlic, nutritional yeast, salt, and almond milk) and blend until creamy and smooth. The sauce should be thin and pourable (add more water as needed).
• Taste and adjust flavors as needed, adding more nutritional yeast for cheesiness, salt to taste, or garlic for zing. Set aside. NOTE: At this time, you could also blend in a handful of fresh basil for added flavor and gorgeous green color.
• PASTA: Heat a large pan over medium heat (non-stick* or cast iron are best as stainless steel can be sticky). Add a bit of water (or oil) to the pan and then add your spaghetti squash.
• Season with a healthy pinch of salt, Italian herbs, garlic powder, and red pepper flake (optional). And use a spatula or tongs to toss. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the squash is slightly browned and very hot.
• Add the sauce and stir / toss to coat the squash. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and slightly thickened.
• Serve immediately as is, or garnish with fresh herbs (such as parsley or basil), vegan parmesan cheese, or red pepper flake (all optional). Add a few of our Best Vegan Meatballs to make this dish even heartier!
• STORAGE: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days (reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until hot, adding a little dairy-free milk if it appears dry). Not freezer friendly.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH PALEO MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Pour water into a baking dish. Place squash halves with cut sides down in baking dish; roast for until tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
• While squash is baking, cook and stir ground beef and onions in a skillet over medium-high heat until the beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Set beef aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir mushrooms, zucchini, green and red bell peppers, both amounts of crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano and thyme. Simmer over medium heat until vegetables are cooked through and tender, about 10 minutes. Add the ground beef and onions; stir to combine. Simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally, while you finish preparing spaghetti squash.
• Scrape the inside of hot spaghetti squash halves with a fork to shred the squash into strands; divide onto 8 plates. Drizzle each serving of spaghetti squash with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and top each serving with a generous amount of meat sauce.

LOW-CARB SPAGHETTI SQUASH ALFREDO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Pierce the spaghetti squash shells several times with a fork. Brush 1 teaspoon olive oil evenly over the cut sides of the squash and season with salt. Place spaghetti squash, cut sides down, on the prepared baking sheet.
• Use a sharp knife to cut 1/4 inch from the top of the garlic. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil and season with a pinch of salt. Wrap in a double layer of foil and place on the baking sheet with the squash.
• Roast in the preheated oven until squash shreds easily with a fork, about 30 minutes.
• Start the sauce after the squash and garlic have been roasting for 20 minutes. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Pour in cream and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese and nutmeg, whisking quickly until smooth. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Remove the squash and garlic from the oven. Pull squash into spaghetti strands with a fork.
• Allow the garlic to cool slightly, then squeeze the cloves into a small dish. Use a fork to mash the pulp into a smooth consistency. Add to the cheese sauce; stir well.
• Divide Alfredo sauce evenly between the squash, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.