Spaghetti-Squash Spaghetti

Courtesy of American Heart Association

This Simple Cooking with Heart, creative Italian recipe has an interesting vegetable that the kids will think is fun to make and eat.

Ingredients

• 1 spaghetti squash (3 pounds)
• non-stick cooking spray
• 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 clove fresh garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp. jarred, minced garlic
• 1/2 small onion (chopped)
• 1 cup tomatoes (diced)
• 8 oz. canned, no-salt-added, diced tomatoes
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. dried, salt-free herbs, Italian blend
• 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 16 oz. canned, no salt added tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup small "bite-sized" fresh mozzarella balls (can substitute fresh mozzarella), cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped, or, torn basil
• 1 tsp. dried basil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Cut spaghetti squash in half. On a baking sheet coated with cooking spray, place halves of squash face down and bake for 1 hour or until tender.
3. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion and cook until soft, about 5-7 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, pepper, herbs and red pepper flakes. Cook until liquid is evaporated, about 2-3 minutes. Add tomato sauce and reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Let squash sit at room temperature until just cool enough to handle. Take a fork and scrap flesh from outside working in, creating “spaghetti noodles.”
5. Add squash "noodles" to sauce and remove from heat. Toss with mozzarella balls and fresh basil and serve.

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