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October 7, 2010

Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Meatballs

spaghetti squash with turkey meatballs and spinach

I have a confession to make. The only reason I tried this recipe was because I was seduced by the magical powers of sprinkled Parmesan cheese on top of meatballs. The bright yellow spaghetti squash intrigued me and I knew the mushroom/spinach profile would be good, but MEAT & CHEESE sold me. I loooove meatballs. I’m 1/2 Italian. It’s in my genetic makeup. My grandma’s meatballs are what broke my 3 years of Vegetarianism. Seriously.

like the pic

Is spaghetti squash like pasta? NO. There’s really no comparison BUT! spaghetti squash does taste fabulous in its own right. It’s soft & semi crunchy and a good vehicle for sauce—hence the pasta substitute.  The strands aren’t soo long that you hafta twirl your fork over and over again. This means you can get it into your mouth faster. Win!

scoop

So how was this dish? Pretty good! I really liked the mushroom sauce and might add more mushrooms and spinach next time. If you are vegetarian, cut out the meatballs and you’ll still have a wonderful, hearty dish!  People with children? You listening? I learned that you cannot trick a 2 year old boy into thinking that spaghetti squash is noodles. Cooper tossed them on the floor to show is disapproval.  Someone is too smart for his own good….

Let’s get started!

Cut up your spaghetti squash & clean out the seeds.

de seeding

Sprinkle each half with salt & pepper and put them cut side down on a baking sheet. Pop them ino the oven.

on a pan

When they’re done, let them cool and scrape out the innards.

scrapage

Let the squash sit in a colander to drain. Look at all that water that came out!

drainage

While the squash is cooking, chop up your garlic & onions.

garlic onion choppage

Saute them in some olive oil until they are soft. Add in your oregano.

sautee age

Add half of the onion/garlic mixture in with your meatballs, breadcrumbs & other spices.

Shape your meatballs!

meatball assemblage

Brown the meatballs in a hot oiled skillet on all sides. Takes about 6 minutes.

browning

This is after the first batch cooked….

done

Add mushrooms to the skillet and saute with the meatball juices. Add some water…to get up all the good stuff.

mushrooming

Add your stock, meatballs & spinach to the mushrooms and let cook for a few minutes.

meatballs & spinach

And then you have this lovely pan full of meatballs, spinach & mushrooms.

tada

Put down a bed of spaghetti squash. Top with meatballs & your mushroom spinach sauce.

fork poke

Sprinkle that bad boy with cheese. You know you want to.

Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Meatballs


(recipe adapted from Martha Stewart Living Magazine)

  • 1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise (about 3 lbs.)
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh oregano
  • 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese (the more, the merrier!)
  • 2 tablespoons dried breadcrumbs
  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • 8 oz. sliced mushrooms
  • 5 cups baby spinach
  • 1 cup organic chicken stock (I used vegetable stock)

Preheat oven to 375. Season cut sides of squash with salt and pepper. Bake, cut sides down, on a baking sheet until tender, about 45 minutes. Let squash cool enough to handle and scrape flesh into a colander to drain. Set aside drained squash.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil  in a medium skillet on medium heat. Cook onion and garlic, until soft, but not brown. Add oregano, cook 30 seconds. Divide mixture between 2 bowls.

Stir a few tablespoons cheese into one bowl of onion mixture. Mix in breadcrumbs, red pepper flakes, turkey, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Form into balls.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large skillet over medium. Brown meatballs on all sides, 4- 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat as necessary. Add the remaining onion mixture, chicken stock, and meatballs to the pan. Gently simmer, slightly covered, until meatballs cooked through, 5 min. Add spinach and cook until just wilted, 1 minute.  Put a bed of squash on a plate, add your meatball mushroom spinach mixture on top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese!

  • Jenny (VintageSugarcube)

    That looks gooder than good! I’ve actually never made spaghetti squash and now I’m gonna give it a try! Your husband is sooooo lucky!!

  • Janet

    Yum! I need to get some spaghetti squash!

    Mmmmmeatballs.

    I am cracking up at the image of Cooper throwing his dinner on the floor! 🙂

  • Dana

    I want to like spaghetti squash. I really do. I have a terrific sounding recipe from Deborah Madison that has a kind of veg meatball and a great sounding sauce (although I love the mushrooms and spinach here.) But. I just don’t like spaghetti squash. It’s surprising to me that I don’t since I love all the other squashes. Cooper and I are united on this one! (Although I would not throw mine on the floor.)

  • Alisha

    I’ve been apprehensive about trying spaghetti squash. Perhaps this weekend I’ll give it a go, this recipe sounds absolutely scrumptious!

  • Katrina

    Cool recipe! I love the idea.

  • Nat

    Hello, this recepie looks very delicious!
    I will try to make it myself this weekend.

    (just wanted to point out that there are no mushrooms on the recepie “card”)

  • Jessica

    Spaghetti squash is great! I’ve been a vegetarian for about 10 months now and wonder if anything will break me since I still find myself craving meat every now and then. Really hoping it’s not Chick-fil-A……(it’s like every day is Sunday! D:)

  • elizabeth (sophisticated pie)

    I looove spaghetti squash! I’ve never tried it with meatballs, which sounds silly, really… i love the play in the recipe (spaghetti (squash) and meatballs)! I must give this or some version of it a try!

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  • Nita

    Spaghetti squash is amazing. We love it with regular old homemade spaghetti sauce w/ meatballs & we scrape the squash a bit but leave it inside the shell so it stays hot & mymymy it’s delish!

    I think I’d eat meatballs on a dirty gym sock though, so….just sayin’.

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  • Deon

    I have been wanting to try Spaghetti Squash but I have been scared. This looks swell. I have to try it soon.

    So, You won a Versatile blogger award on my site. Stop by to claim it and check it out.
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    Cheers!

  • Caley

    Trace,

    This looks amazing!! I might try it this weekend….for me, making this dish is going to be an all day event. 🙂

  • Nadia

    Thanks so much for adding the step by step pictures of the recipe. Beeing French, it sort of help to understand how to make it.

    I tried the recipe and it tasted very good.

    🙂

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  • Sr. Estelle

    Thank you so much for this recipe – it’s fabulous! We have made it for our Convent of healthy Nuns many times. Now, I share it with others.

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