I love a good vegetarian dish.
I remember the first time I made Spaghetti Squash. I was told it would be a great replacement to real spaghetti and give me the same experience as my beloved marinara sauce. (It isn’t. And it wasn’t.)
So here is my disclaimer…if you are expecting spaghetti squash with tomatoes to be the new spaghetti with marinara, I’m going to be the voice of reason and tell you they.are.not.the.same.
Whew, glad I got that off my chest.
BUT…I will say this Spaghetti Squash Side Dish is amazing. Spaghetti Squash is milder than most other squashes, so it allows all the flavors of the red pepper, basil, tomato and olive to come through. Plus, you can take this spaghetti squash side dish to main course with the addition of chicken. Delicious. Healthy. And Budget Friendly.
(And did I mention super FAST? You can go from zero to done in around 30 minutes.)
Spaghetti Squash With Feta, Olives & Basil
Ingredients
1 Spaghetti Squash, halved length wise and seeded
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 red pepper, chopped
1 can italian style tomatoes, 14.5 oz
1/4 cup feta cheese
1 can chopped black olives
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheet.
2. Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on baking sheet and have for 30 minutes or until a sharp knife can be inserted with little to no resistance. Remove squash from oven and set aside for 10 minutes.
You can also cook spaghetti squash in the microwave, but I’m a purist and like it cooked in the oven.
3. While spaghetti squash is baking, heat oil in a medium skillet over med-high heat. Saute onion until tender. Add red pepper and cook for three minutes more. Add garlic and cook for two minutes more. Add tomatoes and cook until warm.
4. Use a large spoon to coop the stringy pulp from the squash and place into a large bowl. Add tomato mixture. Add olives. Toss until well mixed. Garnish with feta cheese and basil.
5. Make a meal by adding grilled chicken.
Enjoy!
Want more dishes like these? Check out Kelly’s Kitchen Index for a list of tried and true recipes.
