Spaghetti Squash Cooked in the Instant Pot

Spaghetti Squash in the Instant Pot

I use spaghetti squash in place of pasta now. It contains 10 grams of carbohydrates per cup. I have always liked it so this transition was no big deal for me. It is a versatile vegetable and can used for a side dish as well as the main course. I serve it a couple different ways, with a tomato sauce, a meat sauce, with butter and garlic or with a cheese sauce. It is a good replacement for noodles and tastes better than noodles anyway. 

Cooking!

It cooks in 7 minutes under high pressure compared to a whole hour in the oven. I cut it so I would have the longest strands possible. The strands will be  more like thin noodles. You cannot fool others into thinking it is noodles, but I think most people like it depending on how you serve it. Be sure get one that is about 2 lbs. so it will fit in your Instant Pot. Then using a paring knife cut cross wise, not length wise and cut across the whole squash. I then scoop everything out in the center with a grapefruit spoon. Put the steamer rack that came with your Instant Pot in the bottom of the inner pot.

Fits good at 2 lbs.!

Now pour in  ½ to 1 cup of water, or whatever the manufacturer of your Instant Pot recommended. Put the squash in now. Two pounds fits almost perfectly in the 6 quart Instant Pot. This why you don't want to have one any bigger than that. Make sure the gasket is on the lid tight and secure.Then put the cover on and turn it to sealing. Set it to cook for 7 minutes on either pressure cook or manual. Now you can go fix the rest of your dinner because you do not have to stand by watching it.

All cooked with butter melting on it.

When time is up and it is finished cooking do a quick release. Be very careful when opening the lid as the steam can burn you! Take both pieces out and using a large fork start pulling the strands out. They should come out as long threads and can be used in any dish that you use noodles in. 

Crispy Chicken Thighs and Spaghetti Squash with Butter

That is really all there is to it. You only have to wash the inner pot. So much easier than baking in an oven and it will not heat up your kitchen. Cooking for one is so much quicker this way. I always have at least another meal for the next day or so. Or you can freeze part of it for a future meal. Another great meal in my Instant Pot!

Copyright © 2019 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2019  Kathleen G. Lupole