Make these simple spaghetti squash boats stuffed with the flavors of the Mediterranean! They’re filled with juicy floor turkey, ripe tomatoes, recent kale, and tangy feta, baked below a tacky blanket of melty mozzarella.
For a very long time, we thought no manner I might high these stuffed zucchini boats, however I kinda did! These stuffed squash boats are probably the greatest methods to eat spaghetti squash. I nonetheless bear 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 filled with 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 really 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 like it). This recipe has all of the summery flavors I really like packed into a light-weight 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 will get inventive together with your favourite seasonal components—or take inspiration from pesto zucchini noodles for a recent, herby twist!
Elements You’ll Want
For those who’ve been following the weblog for some time now, you already know I might reside on Mediterranean-style dishes each single day. This recipe makes use of easy components that I maintain stocked in my fridge and pantry, and I’ll wager you have already got a couple of of them, too!
Take a look at 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 how you can 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 identify 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 possibly can 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. For those who use common diced tomatoes, take into account 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 efficient substitute.
- Feta Cheese – You possibly can additionally strive 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 completely different taste.
- Chopped Parsley – Or recent basil, for garnish.
Methods to Select a Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is available in completely 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 identify).
When looking 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 Suggestions 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 also be tremendous.
- Don’t overcook the squash. Whichever manner you cook dinner your squash, take care to not overcook it or the flesh will turn into mushy. You need the strands to have a little bit of chunk, just like al dente pasta.
- Make it further tacky. For a creamier texture, add somewhat ricotta or cream cheese to the filling earlier than stuffing the boats.
- Make it forward. Put together the filling a day prematurely to save lots of time. Merely heat it up, fill the squash boats, and bake when able to serve.
- Change up the protein. For those who’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 choice.
- Extra veggies. This spaghetti squash boats recipe is tremendous versatile. Be happy so as to add in further veggies like sautéed or roasted bell peppers, grilled zucchini, or roasted mushrooms.
Retailer and Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerate. You possibly can 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 all the pieces is warmed by way of.
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- 2 entire 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 the 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 surface 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, putting 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 way of. 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 properly mixed.
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Fill the boats. Switch the bottom turkey combination into the scraped-out squash bowls and high 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 range in line with the components and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
Methods to Make Spaghetti Squash Boats
I’ve an in-depth tutorial on how you can cook dinner spaghetti squash within the microwave, and that’s the tactic I take advantage of right here to organize the squash for stuffing. It’s fast and simple (in fact, for those who’d moderately bake the squash earlier than you fill it, that tutorial accommodates 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 stuffed with about an inch of water. Microwave the squash on Excessive for quarter-hour till it’s smooth, 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 all the pieces is properly mixed.
- Fill and bake. Lastly, spoon the filling again into the squash shells, high with mozzarella, and bake for quarter-hour at 400ºF till the cheese on high is melted. Garnish the spaghetti squash boats with chopped recent parsley and revel in!
