It’s squash season! So we’re diving into a delicious adventure in the kitchen with a Maple-Roasted Spaghetti Squash recipe that’s bound to put a smile on your face. If you’re a fan of comfort food with a twist, you’re in for a treat.
Exploring Squash Varieties and Maple Butter: A Winning Combination
Before we get cooking, let’s talk squash for a sec. You see, squash comes in all shapes and sizes, and today we’re giving spaghetti squash the spotlight. But if acorn squash or butternut squash tickle your fancy, no worries! This recipe is as flexible as it is flavorful.
Create the Maple Butter
Don’t you love the sound of those two words together – maple butter, really has a nice ring to it First you want to get that butter melted. In a tiny saucepan, melt a tablespoon of butter over low heat. Once that buttery goodness is all smooth and glossy, toss in a tablespoon of pure maple syrup. Stir that up until they’re best buddies. You did it! Maple butter made.
How to cook spaghetti squash
Cooking spaghetti squash can be a daunting task, with its hard exterior and tricky name. I am here to tell you that it really is a very simple process that requires very little – you can do it, I promise. And your family, friends, co-workers or whoever you are cooking for will be blown away… you’ll see.
First halve and seed the squash
Using a sharp knife, cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds and stringy flesh with a spoon. If the squash is too hard to cut, pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until it becomes a little bit more tender. You should not need more that 90 seconds. Keep an eye on it.
Get the spaghetti squash ready to bake.
Lay the spaghetti squash on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. I like to cook my spaghetti squash flesh side up so I can keep an eye on the color.
Time to bake
Place oiled and seasoned spaghetti squash in a pre-heated 425 degree oven and cook for 30-45 minutes. When your spaghetti squash is cooked pull it out of the oven and let it cool until you can handle it. Using a fork, pull the strands away from the skin of the squash. Spaghetti like tender strings will form.
Maple butter for the win Now comes the magic. Drizzle your homemade maple butter all over those squash strands. Give ’em a little toss to make sure they’re all coated in that sweet, sweet maple goodness. Back into the oven they go for another 10-15 minutes. This gives that maple butter a chance to caramelize and create a drool-worthy glaze.
Finishing Touches when those edges start to turn a beautiful golden brown, it’s time to take your masterpiece out of the oven. Season with a pinch more sea salt and pepper. Serve this maple-roasted spaghetti squash as a side dish or even as the star of the show with some grilled chicken or roasted veggies.
A Final Note Remember, this Maple-Roasted Spaghetti Squash recipe is just the beginning of your culinary journey. You can switch things up with different squash varieties like acorn or butternut squash, following the same easy steps. Feel free to experiment with brown sugar, cinnamon, or nutmeg in your maple butter for extra flavor. The kitchen is your playground so play around!
In a nutshell, this Maple-Roasted Spaghetti Squash recipe is the ultimate fall comfort food. With its sweet maple butter and the earthy, wholesome goodness of squash, it’s a dish that warms the heart and satisfies the taste buds. So, grab your ingredients, turn up the oven, and enjoy this simple yet delightful recipe – and don’t forget to share it with your friends and family! Happy cooking!
maple-roasted spaghetti squash recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 whole squash 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Hey, fall foodies! Get ready to fall in love with a dish that combines the cozy vibes of autumn with mouthwatering flavors that’ll make you crave seconds (or thirds!). My Maple-Roasted Spaghetti Squash recipe is like a warm hug for your taste buds.
Ingredients
- 1 whole spaghetti squash
- 2 tablespoon of butter
- 2 tablespoon of pure maple syrup
- A smidge of olive oil for brushing
- A sprinkle of sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Carefully cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise using a sharp knife. Be cautious, as squash can be tough to cut (place squash in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time to soften)
- Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds from the cavity of each squash half. You can save the seeds for roasting later!
- Brush a little olive oil over the cut side of each squash half
- Sprinkle sea salt and black pepper to taste evenly over the squash halves
- Place the squash halves, cut side up on a baking sheet
- Roast the squash in the preheated oven for about 30-40 minutes or until the flesh is tender and easily shreds into spaghetti-like strands with a fork
- In a small microwave safe bowl melt 2 tablespoon of butter in microwave for 30 seconds
- Once melted, add 2 tablespoon of pure maple syrup
- Stir the mixture until well combined to create your delicious and smooth maple butter
- Once the squash is roasted, use a fork to scrape the flesh into spaghetti strands
- Drizzle your homemade maple butter over the spaghetti squash
- Gently toss the strands to coat them evenly with the maple butter
- Return the coated spaghetti squash to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes. This will allow the maple butter to caramelize and create a beautiful glaze
- Remove the maple-roasted spaghetti squash from the oven when the edges start to turn golden brown
- Season with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper to taste if needed
- Serve your maple-roasted spaghetti squash as a delightful side dish or even as a main course. It pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken or roasted vegetables
Notes
Equipment
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: squash
- Method: roast
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 squash
Keywords: maple roasted spaghetti squash, spaghetti squash, best squash recipe, squash recipes, easy dinner recipe, vegetarian dinner recipe, vegetarian recipe
