Spaghetti Squash with Lentil Bolognese
First of all, if you’ve never cooked a spaghetti squash in a pressure cooker, get ready to rock your own world. It’s SO much easier and quicker than the oven method and in my opinion, cooks it even more deliciously than the oven. And I have to say, after using a pressure cooker to cook my spaghetti squash, it seems like the oven takes ages just to preheat!
This lentil bolognese is the star, though. Lentil bolognese feels as hearty as a meaty bolognese but it’s 100% plant based and protein packed. The longer the sauce is simmered, the more robust it tastes – and with a sprinkling of nutty Parmesan on top, it’s the kind of sauce you’ll want to make over and over again. Luckily, it’s fridge and freezer friendly, so you CAN make it over and over again. I like reheating this sauce on the stovetop with a little broth or just letting it thaw out completely and then warming it on the stovetop.
If you wanted to make this another way, you could also serve it over some spiralized vegetables (duh) or some shredded brussels sprouts, or one of these other pasta alternatives.
Actually, spaghetti squash is the first ‘pasta alternative’ I ever discovered. Then, I met spiralized vegetables and never looked back!
Watch our video for this recipe using the Inspiralizer and subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch more videos:
Spaghetti Squash with Lentil Bolognese
Ingredients
- 1 large spaghetti squash
- 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 small onion peeled and diced
- 2 carrots peeled, diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
- ?1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup dry green lentils rinsed
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 bay leaves
- optional: grated Parmesan cheese to garnish (or a vegan alternative!)
Instructions
- Prepare the spaghetti squash. Pierce the squash all over with a paring knife, about 12 times. Insert the steamer insert into your pressure cooker and add 1 cup of water. Add the squash to the insert, seal the pressure cooker and cook on high pressure for 17 minutes. Once it’s done, instant release all of the steam. Remove the squash and cool before halving, removing the seeds and taking two forks and pulling out all of the flesh to make spaghetti-like strands. Divide the spaghetti squash onto bowls.
- While the spaghetti squash cooks, heat the oil in a medium saucepot over medium high heat. Once oil is shimmering, add in the garlic, onions, carrots, and celery and cook for 5 minutes or until vegetables soften and onions are translucent.
- ?Add in the tomatoes and season with basil, oregano, salt and pepper and stir again. Add the lentils, stock and bay leaves and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a medium simmer (over medium-low heat) and cook for 30 minutes or until lentils are tender. Add more broth if the sauce dries out as the lentils are still cooking.
- ?When lentil Bolognese is done, taste and adjust with more salt, if needed. Divide the Bolognese over the spaghetti squash and garnish with Parmesan cheese, if using.
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