Gather Ingredients
Cooking squash noodle medley is a delicious dish that can be made in a matter of minutes. The first step of course is to gather all of the ingredients that you need. You will need squash, zucchini, onion, garlic, butter, salt, pepper and any other herbs and spices that you enjoy.
Once you have all these ingredients assembled, you can start to prepare the dish:
1 large squash
Before you begin cooking your squash noodle medley, make sure you have the necessary ingredients to make a delicious dish. The primary ingredient for this dish is one large squash. This type of squash could range from butternut squash to delicata squash, depending on what you find in the store. Be sure to choose one large squash that will yield enough strands for your dish. Additionally, the size of the squash should fit comfortably within the spiralizer before cutting.
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons olive oil – This recipe calls for two tablespoons of olive oil to be heated in a large skillet over medium heat. The olive oil helps to sauté the vegetables and keeps them from sticking to the bottom of the pan. It also adds a subtle flavor and helps to create an even texture throughout the dish, giving this comforting vegetable noodle medley an irresistibly delicious taste.
2 cloves garlic, minced
In a medium bowl, combine:
- two cloves of minced garlic
- two tablespoons of olive oil
- one tablespoon of freshly chopped thyme
- a half teaspoon each of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
This will create a flavor base for your squash noodle medley. Be sure to mix the ingredients together thoroughly until evenly combined. Additionally, if you would like to add extra flavors to your dish, feel free to add additional spices or herbs as needed.
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
When preparing to cook squash noodle medley, it is important to gather the correct ingredients in order to get a successful and delicious outcome. For this particular recipe, you will need 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano.
Oregano is commonly used as a flavoring for Mediterranean cuisine and offers a slightly bitter taste. It can be purchased in most grocery stores pre-ground or as whole leaves which can be ground up fresh at home. For this recipe, dried oregano should be used since fresh oregano will have a much more intense flavor that may overpower the other ingredients.
1/4 teaspoon salt
For preparing a squash noodle medley, you will need ¼ teaspoon of salt, as this will help to bring out the flavor of the other ingredients in the dish. Before adding it to the mix, be sure to use a fine-grain salt such as sea salt or kosher salt. As a general rule, use one teaspoon of kosher or sea salt for each quart of water used in the dish. When using table salt, reduce the amount by half so that it is not too salty.
Salt should be added at the very end after all other ingredients have been combined; this will prevent the food from becoming too salty and will also help retain its natural flavors. Additionally, avoid over-salting as that may make your dish unpalatable.
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For this squash noodle medley recipe, you will also need 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Black pepper is usually sold pre-ground, however for freshest flavor, grind your own pepper from peppercorns using either a mill or mortar and pestle. For the nuttiest flavor, toast the pepper corns in a dry pan over medium heat until they become fragrant and lightly toasted before grinding. Be sure to add ground black pepper near the end of cooking as it can lose its flavor in heat or with long exposure to air.
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
For this squash noodle medley recipe, you should use 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil. Fresh basil leaves are a wonderful addition to the recipe and give an extra flavor of sweetness.
Chopped fresh basil is easy to prepare: start by washing the herb in cold water and then removing any stems that may remain attached to the leaves. Once all stems have been removed, chop the basil leaves into small pieces using a knife or a kitchen shear. The chopped fresh basil should then be added to the other ingredients before being cooked.
Prepare the Squash
Before you begin to cook your squash noodle medley, preparing the squash is a key step. Squash comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, so the first step to preparing squash is to select one that is ripe and firm. If the squash is too hard, it may be difficult to prepare.
- Rinse the squash with cool water and pat it dry before preparing.
- Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds.
- Once the squash is cut and prepped, you can move on to the next step.
Peel the squash and cut into thin strips
The most important step in preparing the squash for your noodle medley is peeling and slicing it. Depending on the size of your squash, you will want to cut it into strips between 1/4 and 1/8-inch thick. It’s easiest to peel the squash with a sharp vegetable peeler. Once peeled, trim off each end to create a flat, even surface on which to work. From there, cut each end in half lengthwise and then continue slicing into long strips that are between 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch thick. Be sure to keep all of your slices roughly the same thickness so that they cook evenly when tossed together with the noodles and other ingredients.
Boil the squash strips in salted water for 3 minutes
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Prepare a baking dish by greasing it with butter and sprinkling it with a dash of sea salt.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add in your spaghetti squash strips and let them cook for 3 minutes. Once the noodles are tender, drain the water off and set aside. The squash noodles should be slightly tender but still able to hold their shape once cooked.
After the noodles are drained, sauté them in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about 5-7 minutes with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, stirring and flipping them occasionally until they are lightly browned at some spots on each side. Transfer the sautéed noodles to your prepared baking dish before adding any additional ingredients.
Once the squash is prepped, all you will need to do is add in your choice of vegetables and seasonings – mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, garlic cloves, herbs like rosemary and thyme all work great in this dish – along with 1/2 cup of vegan cheese (optional). Give everything in the baking dish a good mix until it’s evenly combined before popping it into the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve hot and enjoy!
Cook the Noodles
Cooking the noodles is the first step to creating a delicious squash noodle medley. Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the squash noodles and stir to make sure they are fully submerged. Cook the noodles until they are tender but still have a bit of bite to them, about 4-5 minutes. Once done, drain the noodles and set aside. Now you are ready to move on to the next step.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes, or until it becomes translucent. Add the minced garlic and mix with the onions.
Increase the heat and add the squash noodles, bell pepper, broccoli, mushrooms and tomatoes. Finally, add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Reduce the heat to low and add two tablespoons of water to lightly moisten if necessary. Continue cooking until all vegetables are softened – but not completely cooked through – 5-7 more minutes depending on your preferences. Serve warm over creamy polenta or quinoa!
Add the garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute
Once the squash noodles have been cooked for 5 minutes and steamed, add garlic, oregano, salt and pepper to the pan. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Then, add the cooked squash noodles back in to warm. Gently mix until all of the ingredients are combined and warmed through.
Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and your favorite vegetables or topping of choice. Enjoy!
Add the cooked squash strips and cook for 3 minutes
Once the squash noodles have been cooked for roughly 5 minutes, add the cooked squash strips to the pan and cook for an additional 3 minutes. If cooking from frozen, use pre-cooked squash noodles and cook with the strips until they are heated through. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your strips and cooking temperature, but generally should not exceed 8 minutes total. Make sure you are stirring frequently during this stage to avoid sticking or burning.
By this point all of your ingredients should be cooked through so feel free to taste test before serving!
Assemble the Dish
This squash noodle medley is a flavorful and healthy dish that can be quickly prepared for a family dinner. It combines butternut squash, kale, and noodles for a delicious medley of flavors. Assembling the dish is simple and straightforward.
- First, you’ll need to cook the butternut squash and noodles.
- Then combine all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
- After that, you can dress the dish with your favorite sauce and seasonings, and you’ll be ready to enjoy your squash noodle medley.
Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss to combine
Once the squash noodles and bell pepper strips have been cooked, add them to the skillet with the spinach mixture. Use tongs or a long-handled spoon to gently toss everything together until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Cook for another two minutes on low heat, stirring constantly, until all flavors are well blended.
At this point your squash noodle medley should be nicely flavored and almost ready! Serve it up hot or cold as desired and you’ll have a delicious dish that can be served as either a side dish or main course. Enjoy!
Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally
Once all of the ingredients have been added to the skillet, put the lid on and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, ensuring all noodles are submerged in liquid. This will ensure that they cook evenly and absorb flavor from the sauce.
After 2 minutes of cooking time, taste test a noodle and see if it is soft enough to your liking. If not, add an additional minute of cooking time with lid covered. Once desired texture is reached, enjoy!
Remove from heat and stir in the chopped basil
Once the broccoli, squash and garlic have been cooked until lightly roasted, remove them from the heat and stir in the chopped basil. The basil will add a unique flavor to the medley that will help to bring all of the different ingredients together. It’s important to not overly cook the herbs or they will lose some of their flavor and presentation value. After adding the basil, give everything a final stir and then remove it from the heat.
At this point, you can enjoy your squash noodle medley hot or cold. You may garnish it with some additional herbs for a bit of extra flavor or freshly grated Parmesan for added texture and richness. As an alternative to Parmesan cheese, other hard cheeses such as goat cheese and feta can also work well. You may even add in some Italian seasoning or oregano to further enhance the flavor of this simple yet tasty dish!
Serve
Serving a squash noodle medley is an easy way to add a delicious and nutritious meal to your dinner table. Once cooked, the colorful noodles make for an attractive presentation. Squash noodles also pair well with a variety of main courses and side dishes. With a few simple steps, you can have a tasty meal ready to go in no time.
Let’s look at how to serve a squash noodle medley:
Serve the squash noodle medley warm
When the squash noodle medley is finished cooking, turn off the heat and carefully remove it from the skillet. Place into a warmed bowl and top with your favorite toppings, such as sliced almonds, sesame seeds, cilantro, Parmesan cheese, fresh basil or parsley.
Squash noodles are best served warm and should be eaten shortly after cooking to prevent them from becoming soggy. You can also store leftovers in an airtight container for up to one day in the refrigerator. If you do choose to reheat it in the microwave or stovetop, add a few tablespoons of water or broth to help restore some moisture to the dish. Enjoy!