Cut the spaghetti squash into wide rings. It is very important to slice the squash horizontally and not vertically to allow the longest spaghetti squash strands.
Deseed the squash.
Place the spaghetti squash rings into baking trays.
Sprinkle generously with a lot of salt on each ring. Rub the salt in with your fingers.
Leave for 15 minutes to allow the water to come to the surface. Pat with paper towels to remove water.
Place the baking trays with the squash into the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
Pesto
While waiting for the squash to bake, prepare the pesto. Roughly chop the basil. Discard the stems.
Put the spinach and basil into a food processor.
Add the Parmesan-Reggiano cheese, garlic, and walnuts.
Pulse the mixture in the food processor while pouring the olive oil slowly into the mixture as it blends the pesto.
Periodically stop the food processor and use a spatula to scrape the sides of the container to ensure even mixing.
If the mixture seems crumbly, it is too dry. Add extra olive oil directly into the mixture until the pesto is a thick consistency that still flows.
Add pepper to taste and continue to pulse.
Add salt to taste and continue to pulse.
Assembling Spaghetti Squash dish
When the spaghetti squash is finished cooking remove from the oven and allow to cool. Run a knife around the edge of the squash.
Separate the strands of spaghetti squash from each other.
Gently push and pull the squash strands apart to unravel the strands.
Using a large mixing bowl, add the spaghetti squash and 3 heaping tablespoons of pesto.
Toss together. Add more pesto to taste.
Serve by topping the spaghetti squash with mozzarella and cherry tomatoes.
Enjoy the Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Mozzarella & Cherry Tomatoes
Notes
This recipe makes more pesto than required for the spaghetti squash. Enjoy the remaining pesto on toast or steamed vegetables.
The classic pesto recipe uses pine nuts. Pine nuts are a delicious base for pesto but they’re expensive and not always easy to find at the grocery store.
Substituting with walnuts tastes just as good and helps your wallet.
Credit:
I learned how to prepare spaghetti squash from Beth at Eat Within Your Means. Beth has a wonderful tutorial on spaghetti squash with detailed instructions on how to cook it to best imitate pasta spaghetti.