Ingredients
- 1 whole Spaghetti Squash
- 5 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- Divided
- 3/4 cups Fresh Basil Leaves
- Packed (more Or Less To Taste)
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest
- 1/4 cups Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/4 teaspoons Salt
- 1/4 teaspoons Ground Black Pepper
- 1/4 cups Toasted Pine Nuts
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450 F.
- Pierce the squash all over with a sharp knife and put it into a microwave safe dish.
- Cook it in the microwave for 3-4 minutes to soften it.
- Carefully remove it from the microwave and allow it to cool slightly.
- Use a very sharp, large kitchen knife to cut the squash in half, vertically.
- Scoop out the seeds and discard them (or clean them and toast them for a snack).
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, and drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil on the cut side of the squash.
- Rub it over the smooth cut portion of the squash, and into the well of the squash too.
- Put the squash halves cut side down on the baking sheet, put it into the preheated oven and cook for 40-50 minutes.
- As the squash is cooking, prepare your pesto.
- Add the basil leaves, 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and zest, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and pine nuts to a food processor.
- Pulse until the pesto begins to come together.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Add 1 additional tablespoon of olive oil to the mixture and pulse again until it is well blended (the pesto wont be completely smooth).
- Set the pesto aside.
- When the squash has finished cooking, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool to the touch.
- Add the tomatoes into a shallow baking dish and drizzle them with olive oil.
- Put the dish into the oven and cook for 5-8 minutes, or until they begin to blister and open.
- Remove them from the oven and keep them warm.
- When the squash is cool to the touch, stand up each half vertically, and use a fork to scrape out the insides in a downward motion.
- The flesh will fall out like strands of spaghetti.
- You may need to warm the pasta in the microwave on a platter for a few minutes prior to serving.
- Serve pasta on individual plates, topped with the pesto and roasted tomatoes.
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