SPAGHETTI SQUASH w/GARLIC & BREADCRUMBS

By BobD

Ingredients

• Most spaghetti squash are pretty large; you will need only half of a 3 to 3 1/2-pound squash for this recipe. You can toss the leftovers with tomato sauce the next day.
• 1 spaghetti squash, about 3 pounds
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 to 4 large garlic cloves, green shoots removed, minced
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• Freshly grated Parmesan

Details

Servings 4
Adapted from nytimes.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Pierce the squash in several places with a sharp knife. Cover a baking sheet with foil, and place the squash on top. Bake for one hour, until the squash is soft and easy to cut with a knife. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool until you can handle it. Cut in half lengthwise, and allow to cool some more. Remove the seeds and discard. Scoop out the flesh from half of the squash, and place in a bowl. Run a fork through the flesh to separate the spaghettilike strands. You should have about 4 cups of squash. (Use some squash from the other half if necessary). Set aside the other half for another dish.

2. Heat the oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add the garlic and bread crumbs. When they begin to sizzle and smell fragrant and the breadcrumbs are crisp that is, after about a minute stir in the squash and parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss together over medium heat until the squash is infused with the garlic and oil and heated through, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to a warm serving dish, top with freshly grated Parmesan and serve.

Variation: Toss the spaghetti squash with 1 cup fresh tomato sauce or simple marinara sauce. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan.