Hey there everyone! I can’t believe its last day of the school year out here in Virginia. Summer is one of my favorite times of the year and I bet it is yours too. ?♀ No alarm clocks, late nights, ice cream and popsicles. It’s just fun! But having to think about what to cook for lunch every day is not so much fun ..Right?
So coming back to our recipe. If you have spaghetti squash and you were thinking about cooking in your Electric pressure cooker / Instant Pot / Mealthy Multi Pot. Great! This post covers the different ways one could approach cooking spaghetti squash noodle. Keep an open mind and you can turn these bland vegetable strands into amazing flavorful dishes! All that just by cooking it and adding so many flavors and texture. The possibilities are ENDLESS.
What is Spaghetti Squash?
Spaghetti squash is a vegetable from the squash family. When cooked the meat of the fruit turns into angel hair-like strands hence the name spaghetti squash noodle. Spaghetti Squash comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, including ivory, yellow and orange, with yellowish and orange having the highest amount of carotene. Its center contains many large seeds and when raw, the flesh is solid and similar to other raw squash. When cooked, the meat of the fruit falls away from the flesh in ribbons or strands that look like spaghetti/ noodles. Spaghetti Squash can be stored at room temperature for about a month. After cutting, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 days. This type of squash also freezes well.
It is a low carb replacement
When giving up carbs, things like Rice, Pasta, and Noodles can be one of the most difficult parts. There are many great dishes that call for rice, noodles, and pasta and you might be wondering how you would make them without being able to use them. That is where low carb spaghetti squash comes in.
How to Cook in a Microwave
The oven and microwave are two tried-and-true cooking options for spaghetti squash, but last fall I discovered I could cook it in my electric pressure cooker, seriously ! and I will never cook a spaghetti squash the same way again.
Use one medium-size Spaghetti Squash. Use a sharp knife to pierce the squash (all the way to center) in a few places to allow steam out when cooking. Microwave for 5 minutes on high 100% setting; rotate 180 degrees and microwave for another 5 minutes until squash shell is soft to the touch. Carefully remove from microwave and let rest for 5 minutes to allow squash to finish cooking inside. Using a sharp knife, cut each end off of the squash. Next cut the squash in half lengthwise. Allow the squash to cool for a couple of minutes. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Discard the seeds. Instant Pot simplifies the process of making Spaghetti Squash Noodle. Check out the options in the recipe card
Spaghetti squash noodles work well together in Pro Tips Cut into halves and cleaned out – This option is the quickest and easiest! Spaghetti squash cooks in halves and lets you scoop the spaghetti strands out super easily.
Here are some ways to serve this Instant Pot spaghetti squash
Burrito bowl Spaghetti Aglio-E-Olio in butter and roasted garlic. Pour our homemade Marinara Sauce over it you will be surprised how filling it is! You can make Pad Thai as a quick lunch Quick Spaghetti Stir Fry Add some umami flavors as a delicious, healthy meal for the whole family!
Keto, Low Carb, and Weight Watchers Approved
Another great thing about using spaghetti squash in your dinner recipes is that it is approved on most diets. If you are eating a low carb or keto diet, these low carb spaghetti squash noodles are 5.5 net carbs per cup. If you are on Weight Watchers, spaghetti squash is on the 0 point list. Let me know in the comments how you will be serving your spaghetti squash. Have a happy and healthy Summer!
Recipe
Storage Store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4-6 days. Notes 2 lbs spaghetti squash yielded roughly 6 cups of cooked squash; 3 lbs generated roughly 8 cups
Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer Mealthy MultiPot 9-in-1 Programmable Slow and Pressure Cooker Instant Pot Ultra 6 Qt 10-in-1 Chef Knife Set Knives Kitchen Set - Kitchen Knives Set Kitchen Knife Set with Stand - Plus Professional Knife Sharpener - 7 Piece Stainless Steel Cutlery Knives Set by HomeHero OXO Good Grips Utility Cutting Board
