My very good friend, who also happens to be a master chef in his at-home kitchen, is always turning me on to new techniques and healthy food options I never would have thought to try! A week or so ago he sent me a picture of what seemed like a distorted pasta dish, and when I asked what in the world I was looking at, the answer was intriguing, surprising, delicious—Squash “Noodles”. Quite simply, you bake a squash and pull the meat out in strands, then enjoy like you would any pasta with sauce, spices, or whatever you please!
For me, the pasta method seemed too hearty for a weekday dinner side, so I instead simply prepared the Squash and ate it plain, which was amazing.
You’ll Need:
Squash (one small squash provided enough meat for a small side dish, one serving)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Ground Pepper
Preheat the oven to 350
Cut the ends off of the Squash, and halve what’s left lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and other innards and either discard or save the seeds for roasting!
Drizzle each exposed side of the vegetable with olive oil and place cut-side down on a baking sheet or foil. Bake for about 35 minutes or until the skin of the Squash begins to brown.
Remove the Squash from the oven and use the prongs of a fork to pull the meat out from top to bottom (or side to side for shorter pieces). If the meat doesn’t fall off easily, put it back in the oven for a bit longer. Once you’ve harvested all the meat from the squash, discard the skins, season with pepper to taste, and enjoy!
