Tomato Basil Spaghetti Squash

Total Time: 1 Hour 35 Mins

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 45 mins

Yield: 4 Servings

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 pound lean ground beef or turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (8-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Once oven is heated place whole spaghetti squash on a baking sheet and place in oven. Spaghetti squash is extremely hard to half or cut when raw, therefore by baking it half way through you can soften it so that it’s easier to cut. After 30 mins remove the spaghetti squash from the oven and careful begin to cut in half long ways. Be careful of hot steam that will escape upon opening it up. Using a spoon remove the seeds from the center and discard. Place both halves of the squash (center side up) back onto the baking sheet and back into the oven for another 30 mins. In a large sauté pan, over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and sauté the onions until they are golden brown (this will give it a nice nutty rich flavor to your sauce). Once onions are browned add in your meat and let it brown, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon. Add in the minced garlic and sauté for less than a minute (you never want to brown your garlic for it will become bitter). I also like to add in red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Once meat is browned pour in your can of stewed tomatoes. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

You can test if the spaghetti squash is cooked through by running a fork across the center and how easily it will shred into spaghetti looking strips. The longer you cook it the softer the texture. It all depends if you like a little crunch to your noodles or not. Once you are happy with the texture of your squash remove from the oven and with the fork being to running it through the center, creating long spaghetti looking noodles. Place shredded squash into a serving bowl and top with sauce. Top with fresh basil and mozzarella and enjoy!