Recipe: Spaghetti Squash vs. Pasta

I do love a good pasta, but what about all that white flour? Whole wheat is always an option, but I'd rather have the real stuff.


From there, I've moved onto spaghetti squash - is this a legitimate substitute for pasta? I'm not totally convinced. Here's what happened:


Ingredients
1 medium spaghetti squash
Tomatoes
Tomato paste
Onion
Garlic
Basil
Parsley
White wine
Black pepper
Chili powder
Mushrooms + other veggies + chicken etc.


General Method (Squash) 

• Pierce the squash a few times to release steam during baking
• Bake at 375F for approximately 1 hour or until tender
• Once slightly cool to touch, slice and remove seeds
• Scrape out flesh with a fork!

General Method (Marinara)

• Chop and puree tomatoes, paste and spices 
• Saute onion and garlic 
• Add puree and simmer with white wine 
• Season with extra black pepper and chili 
• Add vegetables and cooked chicken (optional!)

Adapted from some Clean Eating recipe

Comments:

• One hour is pretty long to wait for "pasta" - I recommend baking the squash in advance to save time
• I think one cup of squash is considered a serving - not very much! Consider adding some chicken or other protein (as a side or to the sauce)
• This is a pretty basic marinara that I make quite often - it's simple and pretty fool proof. I'm always interested in new recipes, if anyone has a suggestion, please let me know!
• I threw in random vegetables that I had, including zucchini - I probably won't do that again. It's difficult to add veggies without overcooking them. I added these last, so they were still firm by the time the sauce was done, but didn't contribute to overall flavour
• A note about dried mushrooms: the rehydration process is weird and takes 0.5 to 1 hour, but you get an interesting variety in the box. Hint - Hydrate mushrooms with some chicken stock, or alternatively, use fresh mushrooms!

Overall Recommendation:

• Try the squash if you're afraid of pasta 
• It's a nice light alternative, but isn't as comforting or tasty. I'd have it again with a more interesting (spicy!) sauce.