Although I wouldn’t say I like all vegetables, I enjoy trying new ones (at least once). I was completely confused when I first discovered spaghetti squash. I didn’t get how stringy squash could be so delicious. Surprise, I was wrong! Spaghetti squash is one of my favourite vegetables. Although it can be a wonderful side dish, I prefer to use it to substitute for pasta.
Because spaghetti squash is stringy, it can be similar to spaghetti in texture (hence its name). You must give this recipe a shot if you want to reduce your carb intake but still enjoy your favourite savoury pasta dishes. For keto dieters, spaghetti squash is a great choice.
There are many ways to cook spaghetti squash. It can be roasted in an oven or quickly cooked in the microwave. The Instant Pot is the best way to cook it. It cooks in just 7 minutes, even though it takes to bring the pressure to the pot. This hack shines because of the final product.
We opened the Instant Pot to find that the squash was falling off its skin. This cooking hack will show you how amazing the Instant Pot is at cooking this squash. We promise you won’t be disappointed!
1. Take out the seeds of squash.
All seeds must be removed before you can cook the squash. Cut the squash in half. Cut the squash in half using a sharp knife. It can be difficult to cut through squash. Next, remove the “guts” or seeds and discard them.
2. Add water and squash to Instant Pot.
The next step is to add 1 cup of water or broth to your Instant Pot. While water will perfectly cook the squash, the broth will enhance the flavour. Place the trivet in the pot, and then place the squash halves in the top. The trivet helps keep the squash from becoming too wet by keeping it out of the liquid.
3. Pressure Cook
Place the lid on the pot and seal the valve. Cook the squash for 7 minutes on High (depending on your pot’s model) or Manual. We made extra-large spaghetti squash, the largest we could fit. It took 20 minutes for our Instant Pot to get to pressure. This time can vary depending on how large the squash is, what model your Instant Pot is, and many other factors.
4. Quick Release and Serve
After the timer has expired, release the pressure quickly and take off the lid. You will need oven mitts to help the squash be removed from the oven. Let the squash cool down before using a fork to shave the squash and remove the skins. The Instant Pot will allow the skin and squash to separate easily. This is the best thing about using it instead of an oven. This squash can be used as a substitute for pasta dishes or a side dish. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- Spaghetti squash
- 1 cup water or broth
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Method
- Cut the spaghetti squash in half, and scoop out the seeds.
- Add liquid to the Instant Pot, trivet, and squash halves.
- Cover the pot with a lid and seal the valve. For 7 minutes, cook on Manual/Pressure Cook HIGH.
- After the timer has expired, release the pressure quickly and take off the lid. Once the squash has cooled, carefully remove it and then mash the flesh with a fork.
- Heat up and store for up to one week in an airtight container.
Notes:
Our 6 Quart Instant pot Duo took 20 minutes to bring to pressure. Remember that we used extra-large spaghetti squash. This time will vary depending upon the size and model of your Instant Pot.
The size of the spaghetti squash will affect the serving sizes. Extra-large spaghetti squash was easy to serve 6.
