How to cook a spaghetti squash

While great prepared other ways, spaghetti squash makes a great low carb and low calorie substitute for pasta. It may cost a little more than buying a pack of spaghetti noodles, but it is a great way to get in more vegetables and is a good source of many nutrients such as beta carotene, vitamin A, potassium, and folic acid. It may seem intimidating at first to work with, but it really is simple.

Step 1: Cut your squash in half (this can be difficult but is nothing a big knife can't do) and scrape out the seeds, saving them to use later.

Step 3: Put cut-side down in a pan filled with 1/2 inch of water.

Step 4: Place in a 350 degree oven for 25-45 minutes until fork tender.

Step 5: Once cool, rake a fork across the squash and it will come out in strands like spaghetti.

Step 6: Optional, but I like to drain the squash to remove excess moisture.

And there you go. You now have a bowl full of "spaghetti" to use in your favorite recipes. There are many recipes out there, but my favorite way to eat it is covered in a bit of marinara sauce. Call me a minimalist :)