Spaghetti Squash a la Microwave

You are rarely going to see a microwave recipe on this site. Not that there won’t be any, mind you, they just have to be worthwhile. This one definitely is.

There are many casserole dishes using spaghetti squash. Often the squash is required to be cooked first, adding about 45 minutes of time before you even start the casserole recipe. This microwave version can really be handy if you are making a recipe that requires a cooked spaghetti squash…and it’s a hot summer and you don’t want to heat up your house…or you are short on time…or you are cooking in a hotel or dormitory microwave…and so on. See how useful this recipe is? I also like that I’m not wrestling with a raw spaghetti squash with a big sharp knife trying to cut it in half to roast it. Some days I don’t have energy for that.

If you are new to a therapeutic health diet like the SCD, Paleo, or Keto, you might think replacing pasta with spaghetti squash is going to give you the same dish. It’s not, and you will set yourself up for disappointment. True, it can replace pasta in many recipes, but it doesn’t really replace pasta in the sense you might think. That’s because you are going into this with the wrong mindset. Like a new puppy, it’s not going to have the same personality as your late beloved hound. It’s going to have it’s own personality. The beauty of spaghetti squash is it’s in a fun shape, and bland, so it can be used as a canvas for a variety of flavors. A unique way to enjoy getting more vegetables into your diet. Go into this with a sense of adventure and curiosity. Plus one cooked cup of spaghetti squash has 10 grams of carbohydrates so it’s waistline friendly.

Wash the squash. Poke about 10 -12 holes all around it with a fork. This will keep it from exploding while cooking.

Place the squash in the microwave and cook for 5 minutes at the normal setting. Then, roll the squash onto it’s opposite side, and cook another 3-5 minutes (3 minutes for a small squash, 5 minutes for a large one). Repeat until the outer shell can be dented with your finger. So far, this has taken a total of 8 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the squash, in my microwave. Microwave ovens vary.

Let the squash cool for a few minutes. Slice in half lengthwise. Use a large spoon to scrape out the seeds (Caution: you may need to let it cool more before doing this).

Fluff it with a fork. It’s ready to use. Enjoy!