Description
Hearty twice baked spaghetti squash delivers a comforting Italian-inspired meal with robust flavors. Roasted squash filled with savory ingredients offers a delightful alternative for those seeking a lighter pasta experience you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 spaghetti squash (about 3 lbs / 1.36 kg)
- 1 cup canned artichokes, drained and roughly chopped
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach, chopped
- 8 slices deli provolone cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup ricotta cheese (part skim or whole milk)
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps mayonnaise
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ¼ cup fresh basil, cut into ribbons (plus more for garnish)
- Red pepper flakes (for serving)
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Fresh black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal roasting and easy cleanup.
- Squash Preparation: Slice spaghetti squash lengthwise, carefully removing seeds and inner pulp with a spoon, then thoroughly coat with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper.
- Initial Roasting: Position squash cut-side down on prepared baking sheet, allowing caramelization and flavor development during roasting, bake for 30-40 minutes until tender and easily pierced.
- Strand Creation: After cooling slightly, use a fork to gently scrape squash interior, creating spaghetti-like strands and transferring to a mixing bowl.
- Filling Composition: Combine chopped artichokes, spinach, mixed cheeses, mayonnaise, garlic, oregano, and basil in a separate bowl, seasoning with additional salt and pepper for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Final Assembly: Evenly distribute prepared mixture over roasted squash halves, topping with Provolone cheese slices for a golden, crispy finish.
- Finishing Bake: Return to oven and bake until cheese melts and becomes slightly bubbling, approximately 10-15 minutes, then allow to rest briefly before serving to let flavors meld together.
Notes
- Squash Selection: Choose medium-sized spaghetti squash with firm, unblemished skin for best texture and flavor.
- Caramelization Technique: Placing squash cut-side down helps develop deeper, richer roasting flavors and creates natural caramelization.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Use room temperature cheese for even melting and prevent potential burning during final baking stage.
- Cooling Importance: Let the dish rest after baking to allow ingredients to set and flavors to blend harmoniously.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg