I grew Spaghetti Squash. Now What?
Welcome to my "now what?" series. This is part of my Food Storage Prepping in the Garden collection to help you better understand what you are growing and how to use your harvest.
Spaghetti squash is a type of winter squash that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. Specifically Cucurbita pepo.
Spaghetti squash is definitely a unique variety of winter squash. It is often used as a pasta substitute if you’re trying to eat healthier or add more veggies to your diet. When pulled apart with a fork, the interior of a cooked spaghetti squash is stringy and noodle-like.
Spaghetti squash is ready to pick about 90 to 110 days after planting, typically in early fall. When the vines start to turn brown, your squash is ready to be picked. Likewise, look for squash with stems that have turned from green and supple to brown and hard. Young squash are light green or white with a light green tinge. When ready to harvest, the skin turns to a uniform dark golden yellow with a hard rind.
HARVESTING SPAGHETTI SQUASH
Use a sharp pruner to cut the stem leaving 3 to 4 inches attached to the squash. Don’t hold the squash by it’s stem as that can damage the squash and shorten it’s shelf-life.
CURING SPAGHETTI SQUASH
Place the squash in a warm, dry, well-ventilated location for one to two weeks to cure. When properly harvested and cured spaghetti squash can be stored for up to two months in a cool, dry spot like a cabinet or pantry.
HOW TO COOK SPAGHETTI SQUASH
There are quite a few ways to prepare spaghetti squash.
The simplest is to roast/bake the quash in the oven.
-Cut your spaghetti squash in half length-wise.
-use a spoon to scoop out the seeds (seeds can be saved to plant later or roasted)
-Drizzle the inside with olive oil then sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper
-Then, place the squash halves cut side down on a baking sheet. Poke a few holes in the skin of the squash with a fork, and pop it in a pre-heated 400°F oven.
-roast it for 30 to 40 minutes
-Once it’s roasted and cool enough to touch, use a fork to scrape the “spaghetti” from the skin
Now that you have a baked Spaghetti Squash, you can use it as you’d like.
A few delicious options include:
-Pesto Spaghetti Squash
-Spaghetti Squash Taco Bowl
-Use Spaghetti Squash in place of rice with Stir Fry
-Spaghetti Squash Cheesy Bread
-Easy Homemade Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash
-Spaghetti Squash Pizza: Swap that pizza dough for a cheesy spaghetti squash crust!
-Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
SPAGHETTI SQUASH TACO BOWL
"SPAGHETTI" WITH GARDEN VEGGIE MARINARA
CHEESEY SPAGHETTI SQUASH
