For The Love of Squash!!

I don't know about you, but I love Fall! I love the colours, the smells, the crisp air, the anticipation of Halloween and... the SQUASH! There are so many varieties! Butternut, buttercup, acorn, kabocha, spaghetti, turban and pumpkin oh my! What's to love about squash? Well let's see, it's a good source of vitamin A and C, potassium, fiber, B vitamins, iron, calcium ,omega 3 fatty acids and protein. It's also low in calories, easy to digest, and super tasty! Seriously, what's not to love?

A recipe!

                                 Spaghetti and Zucchini Squash With Nutritious Tomato Sauce.

  

Please forgive the quality of the picture. It was taken with my phone.

This recipe consists of both spaghetti squash and zucchini which is a summer squash.

Equipment: food processor or blender or immersion blender.
                 potato peeler or spiralizer

Ingredients:

1/2 of a spaghetti squash
1 medium zucchini
I can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 package or 1/2 - 3/4 cup fresh chopped basil
1/2 chopped onion
1 cup chopped kale or spinach, frozen or fresh
1 chopped carrrot
1 teaspoon salt
1-2 teaspoons oregano
1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)

What to do:

Preheat oven to 400 F

Spaghetti  squash

Half the spaghetti squash and scoop seeds from one half. The other half can be wrapped up and stored in the fridge. Place face down in an oven safe dish in about an inch of water and place it in the oven for about 45 minutes or until it's tender enough to easily stick a fork through the skin.

Sauce: Two ways to make this. Check out the tips below for the second option.

 Put chopped carrot and kale into the food processor. Process until finely crumbled. Add diced tomatoes,tomato paste, basil, onion, salt and oregano. Process until smooth. Transfer to large pot and simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour. Add sugar if using.

Zucchini

Make zucchini into thin slices using a potato peeler or noodles with a spiralizer.

This is a spiralizer. You can find them on amazon. 

When spaghetti squash is done scoop out the flesh into a bowl. You'll now see where it gets its name! now grab a plate or bowl and add a portion of both squashes and top with the sauce. Yay! A meal with half the calories of regular spaghetti and loaded with nutrition!

Tips:

#1 Another way to make the sauce would be to throw everything into a large pot and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour. Then transfer it to a blender and puree until smooth or if you own an immersion blender just puree it in the pot.

#2 I've added  broccoli before too and though it was delicious.

#3 Athena ate hers with quinoa and rice noodles mixed with zucchini noodles. She's not big on squash :(