Make these simple spaghetti squash boats full of the flavors of the Mediterranean! They’re full of juicy floor turkey, ripe tomatoes, recent kale, and tangy feta, baked underneath a tacky blanket of melty mozzarella.
For a very long time, we thought no manner I might prime these stuffed zucchini boats, however I kinda did! These stuffed squash boats are among the best methods to eat spaghetti squash. I nonetheless keep in mind the primary time I made this Mediterranean-inspired recipe. My pasta-loving husband devoured his portion and even requested for seconds. They’re full of savory floor turkey, juicy tomatoes, leafy kale, and tangy crumbled feta, plus a melty layer of mozzarella. Even my choosy 6-year-old on the time didn’t discover all of the veggies!
Why You’ll Love These Mediterranean Spaghetti Squash Boats
- Straightforward. These squash boats are tremendous healthful, and nice for weeknight dinners because it’s very simple to prep, fill, and bake the squash in about an hour.
- Mild and scrumptious. I like spaghetti squash recipes like my creamy spaghetti squash as a result of I really feel like I’m indulging, minus the carbs that include precise spaghetti (as a lot as we adore it). This recipe has all of the summery flavors I like packed into a lightweight and satisfying dinner.
- Adaptable. Change up the protein, filling, veggies, and absolutely anything else from this stuffed squash recipe to fit your tastes. Similar to pasta, you may get inventive along with your favourite seasonal elements—or take inspiration from pesto zucchini noodles for a recent, herby twist!
Elements You’ll Want
If you happen to’ve been following the weblog for some time now, you realize I might dwell on Mediterranean-style dishes each single day. This recipe makes use of easy elements that I preserve stocked in my fridge and pantry, and I’ll wager you have already got just a few of them, too!
Try my notes right here, and scroll all the way down to the recipe card for the printable recipe, adopted by a photograph step-by-step exhibiting the best way to make your spaghetti squash boats.
- Spaghetti Squash –Spaghetti squash is a typical winter squash in the identical household as acorn squash and butternut squash. The title comes from the truth that you may shred the squash into lengthy, spaghetti-like strands. You’ll usually discover them year-round in grocery retailer produce sections.
- Oil – For roasting and sautéeing. I like grapeseed oil because it has a excessive smoke level and delicate taste. Olive oil and avocado oil will work right here, too.
- Onion – Both yellow or white onion, diced.
- Garlic – Freshly minced garlic is finest, however you may substitute ¼-½ teaspoon of garlic powder per clove in a pinch.
- Floor Turkey – You’ll be able to substitute floor turkey with floor hen, pork, or floor beef if most popular. Another choice is to make use of leftover roast turkey and shred it.
- Thyme – This may be recent thyme (simply the leaves, not the sprigs), or you may substitute ½ teaspoon of dried thyme. You’ll additionally want salt and pepper to season the filling to style.
- Canned Diced Tomatoes – I take advantage of canned tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano. If you happen to use common diced tomatoes, contemplate including ½ teaspoon every of dried basil, garlic powder, and oregano to make up the flavour. Another choice is to make use of fire-roasted tomatoes.
- Kale Leaves – I like to recommend child kale leaves, or you may chop bigger leaves into smaller bites. Child spinach is an effective substitute.
- Feta Cheese – You can additionally attempt crumbled goat cheese or freshly grated Parmesan.
- Mozzarella Cheese – Use freshly shredded mozzarella by itself, or use a mix of mozzarella and cheddar for a barely totally different taste.
- Chopped Parsley – Or recent basil, for garnish.
How you can Select a Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is available in totally different shapes and colours, although the most typical kind you’ll discover in shops is oval-shaped and yellow. When cooked, the flesh contained in the squash separates into strands that resemble spaghetti (therefore the title).
When purchasing for spaghetti squash, I at all times search for ones that really feel heavy for his or her dimension, with matte, golden, easy pores and skin that doesn’t present indicators of bruising or blemishes.
Recipe Ideas and Variations
- Use a microwave AND oven-safe dish. I microwave my squash in the identical baking dish that I take advantage of to bake the squash boats afterward. Ensure it’s a glass dish or a ceramic dish that may safely go from the microwave to the oven. In any other case, you’ll want to modify pans earlier than baking, which can be high quality.
- Don’t overcook the squash. Whichever manner you cook dinner your squash, take care to not overcook it or the flesh will turn out to be mushy. You need the strands to have a little bit of chunk, much like al dente pasta.
- Make it additional tacky. For a creamier texture, add slightly ricotta or cream cheese to the filling earlier than stuffing the boats.
- Make it forward. Put together the filling a day upfront to avoid wasting time. Merely heat it up, fill the squash boats, and bake when able to serve.
- Change up the protein. If you happen to’re not a fan of floor turkey, be happy to make use of floor beef, hen, or perhaps a plant-based meat substitute for a vegetarian possibility.
- Extra veggies. This spaghetti squash boats recipe is tremendous versatile. Be at liberty so as to add in additional veggies like sautéed or roasted bell peppers, grilled zucchini, or roasted mushrooms.
Retailer and Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerate. You’ll be able to retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat. To reheat your squash boats, cowl them with foil and pop them again within the oven till the whole lot is warmed by.
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- 2 complete spaghetti squash, (about 1.5 kilos every)
- 3 tablespoons grapeseed oil, divided
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound floor turkey
- 2 sprigs recent thyme leaves, (don’t add your complete sprig – simply the leaves)
- salt and freshly floor black pepper, to style
- 14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, undrained
- 1 bag (5 ounces) child kale leaves, chopped
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- chopped recent parsley, for garnish
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Prep the spaghetti squash. Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Wash the skin of the squash, then slice it lengthwise and scrape out the seeds.
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Season the spaghetti squash boats. Brush the within of the squash boats with a tablespoon of oil and season with salt and pepper.
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Prepare dinner. Switch the squash boats to a microwave-safe 9×13 baking dish, inserting the squash face down. Fill the dish with about an inch of water. Microwave on HIGH for quarter-hour. Take away from microwave and let stand 10 minutes or till cool sufficient to deal with.
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Prep the filling. Warmth a tablespoon of cooking oil in a nonstick frying pan; add onions, garlic, and floor turkey. Utilizing a wood spoon, break up the meat, add thyme leaves, and season with salt and pepper.
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Proceed to cook dinner the filling. Proceed to cook dinner for 4 to five minutes or till the meat is browned and cooked by. Stir within the tomatoes and cook dinner for two minutes. Add the kale and proceed to cook dinner for two extra minutes or till the kale is wilted.
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Season and put aside. Take away the bottom turkey combination from the warmth and stir within the crumbled feta cheese. Style for seasonings; regulate accordingly, and put aside.
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Make the “spaghetti strands”. Flip the spaghetti squash boats, take a fork, and peel the spaghetti strands. Add the spaghetti strands to the bottom turkey combination and gently combine till nicely mixed.
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Fill the boats. Switch the bottom turkey combination into the scraped-out squash bowls and prime with mozzarella cheese. Place the squash boats in a 9×13 baking dish (I take advantage of the identical one which I used to microwave the squash). Bake for quarter-hour, or till the cheese is melted.
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Serve. Take away from oven. Garnish with chopped recent parsley and serve.
Serving: 1boat | Energy: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 38g | Fats: 24g | Saturated Fats: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 9g | Monounsaturated Fats: 5g | Trans Fats: 0.02g | Ldl cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 677mg | Potassium: 737mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3974IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 383mg | Iron: 3mg
Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could differ based on the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
How you can Make Spaghetti Squash Boats
I’ve an in-depth tutorial on the best way to cook dinner spaghetti squash within the microwave, and that’s the strategy I take advantage of right here to arrange the squash for stuffing. It’s fast and straightforward (after all, when you’d fairly bake the squash earlier than you fill it, that tutorial comprises oven directions, too).
- Put together the squash. Begin by washing the spaghetti squash, then use a pointy knife to slice it lengthwise down the center. Afterward, scoop out the seeds.
- Prepare dinner the squash. Subsequent, brush the lower sides of the squash with oil, season with salt and pepper, and place the halves face down in a microwave-safe dish full of about an inch of water. Microwave the squash on Excessive for quarter-hour till it’s mushy, then let it cool.
- Put together the filling. Whereas the squash cools, sauté the onions, garlic, and floor turkey in a pan with a bit extra oil. Add thyme, salt, and pepper. Prepare dinner till the turkey is browned.
- Add veggies. Stir within the canned tomatoes. Prepare dinner for a few minutes, then add the kale and cook dinner till that’s wilted. Lastly, take away the pan from warmth and blend within the crumbled feta.
- Mix. Utilizing a fork, scrape the cooked squash into spaghetti-like strands. Add the squash to the turkey combination and blend till the whole lot is nicely mixed.
- Fill and bake. Lastly, spoon the filling again into the squash shells, prime with mozzarella, and bake for quarter-hour at 400ºF till the cheese on prime is melted. Garnish the spaghetti squash boats with chopped recent parsley and revel in!
