9lb 1 oz Spaghetti Squash
Have you tried spaghetti squash yet? This squash is remarkably easy to cook, and is a reasonable substitute for spaghetti noodles at a fraction of the calories. And at this time of year, it can be a bargain. I bought my 9lb 1 oz baby at Trader Joe’s, which sells everything by the piece, not by weight. So, at $1.79, this squash was less than 20¢ a lb!
My nutritional data shows that 1 C cooked is only 42 calories, with 2 grams of fiber and a good amount of vitamin C. That’s 0 points for you Weight Watchers! The zero pointage doesn’t last forever, though; 2 C is 1 point, and 3 C is 2 points. That’s a lot of squash!
When you have a squash this big, cutting it feels more like slaughter. It was surprisingly painless,
Still huge!
however. To my surprise, there were squash sprouts inside! They didn’t affect the flavor of the squash as far as I can tell.
Squash Sprouts
I cut it into quarters, then stuck one in the microwave with clear wrap for about 9 minutes. After it cooled a bit, I used a fork to remove the flesh, resulting in a spaghetti-like texture. I added tomato sauce and a little parmesan cheese–delish!
Joel eats huge amounts of spaghetti squash, but he prefers it with a little butter and parmesan cheese. Any way you eat it, you’re getting a lot of food and nutrition.
I’m ho-hum about summer squash, but can’t get enough winter squash. How about you?
How to turn spaghetti squash into spaghetti
