Buttered spaghetti squash makes for an easy side dish to have with your wintery comfort food. Serve it up with some homemade garlic parmesan crisps for some crunch and extra flavour.
Cut the spaghetti squash in half, lengthways. Remove seeds. Coat with olive oil thoroughly.
Line a sheet pan with baking paper. Place spaghetti squash flat side down and bake for 1 hour. (move onto parmesan crisp instruction below)
Add the butter into a mixing bowl.
Remove the spaghetti squash from the oven and turn them over. Using a fork, scrape the flesh and fluff them out and put in a mixing bowl. Allow the warmth of the squash to melt the butter. Add ½ the oregano, salt and pepper and mix gently.
Place a serve of buttered spaghetti squash into a circular mould on top of a serving plate. Repeat 3 more times.
Sprinkle the rest of the chopped oregano on top as garnish.
Parmesan Crisps
While the spaghetti squash is baking, grate parmesan cheese. On a sheet pan lined with baking paper, place small portions of parmesan cheese evenly, without them touching. Alternatively, you can use a silicone mat if you have one or even muffin trays to make sure they really stay intact.
Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder and black sesame seeds on top of each.
After the spaghetti squash is done, place the parmesan in the oven for 5-10 minutes. Watch closely!
Remove and set aside to cool. It is important to let it cool properly to give it time to crisp up.
Assembly
When the spaghetti squash are completed, serve it with a bowl of parmesan crisps or place some parmesan crisps on the side of the plate.
Video
Notes
You can use quite a variety of herbs as an oregano substitute if you wish. You can use coriander/cilantro, flat-leaf parsley, chives, chervil or marjoram.
Parmesan crisps flavours: As the buttered spaghetti squash is relatively mild in flavour, there are many other options when it comes to flavouring the homemade parmesan crisps. You can try seasonings such as everything bagel, taco, Italian or BBQ. Other spices you may want to experiment with would include paprika, cayenne pepper, hot chilli pepper, a touch of cumin or even curry powder.
You can, of course, use white sesame seeds for this recipe or even substitute it entirely with poppy seeds or nigella seeds.
Don't over handle the spaghetti squash after you have removed all the flesh. They will turn mushy and become less fluffy.
Be sure to space out the parmesan crisps on the sheet pan so they don't touch.
Don't over pile the parmesan cheese. And make it's even in amount.
Allow parmesan crisps to cool down so it can crisp up.