Baked and Sauteed Spaghetti Squash on a Bed of Spinach
- 1 spaghetti squash, about 3 pounds
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 plump garlic cloves, minced
- Salt
- 1 12-ounce bag (or box) baby spinach, rinsed
- 2 tablespoons bread crumbs
- Lots of freshly ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon sumac (optional)
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan (more to taste)
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (more to taste)
- 1 tablespoon walnut oil
- Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Pierce spaghetti squash in several places with a sharp knife.
- Cover a baking sheet with foil and place squash on top.
- Bake 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until squash is soft and easy to cut into with a knife.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool until you can handle it, then cut in half lengthwise and allow to cool some more.
- Scoop out seeds and discard.
- Scoop out flesh and place in a bowl.
- Run a fork through to separate the spaghetti-like strands.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy 12-inch skillet.
- Add half the garlic and as soon as it begins to sizzle and smell fragrant add spinach.
- It should wilt quickly in the liquid left on leaves after washing.
- Add salt to taste and toss in pan (tongs are a good tool for this) until all spinach has wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Place a strainer or colander in the sink and drain spinach.
- Allow to drain while you saute spaghetti squash.
- Wipe skillet and heat again over medium-high heat.
- Add remaining olive oil and breadcrumbs.
- When breadcrumbs are crisp, after about 1 minute, stir in remaining garlic, stir for a few seconds, until fragrant, and add spaghetti squash and salt to taste.
- Toss together over medium-high heat until the squash is infused with oil and breadcrumbs are beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Add sumac if using and lots of freshly ground pepper.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Remove from heat.
- Arrange spinach on a platter.
- Top with squash.
- Sprinkle Parmesan and walnuts over squash and drizzle on walnut oil.
- Serve hot.
extra virgin olive oil, garlic, salt, baby spinach, bread crumbs, ground pepper, sumac, freshly grated parmesan, walnuts, walnut oil
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017075 (may not work)