Spaghetti Squash with Lemon and Capers

Ingredients
1 large spaghetti squash
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon capers, drained and rinsed
¹⁄₄ cup onion, diced
¹⁄₄ cup zucchini, diced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons parsley leaves, minced
¹⁄₈ cup tomato, diced

Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 400*F.

2. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out all seeds.  Rub all over with olive oil, salt and pepper.   Place squash cut side down on a baking sheet, cover with foil, and bake until the rind is slightly soft, about 20-45 minutes.  (I got tired of waiting for mine to bake at about the 30 minute mark and I finished them up in the microwave.  Feel free to cook them all the way in the microwave if you’re pressed for time.)  

3. Scrap the meat out with a fork (it will be stringy) and reserve, keeping warm.  

4. Meanwhile, in a hot skillet, melt the butter and continue to cook until it darkens slightly.  Add the capers, onion and zucchini and cook, stirring, until tender.  Stir in the lemon juice and parsley and season with salt and pepper.  

5.  In a large bowl combine the squash, butter sauce, and tomatoes.  Serve.  

Comments
This is adapted from a recipe I found on Foodtv.com while searching for an exciting way to use the spaghetti squash from my CSA haul.  Art and Lance aren’t huge winter squash fans, so it’s a challenge to figure out how to prepare it in a way that will be appealing.  I grew up eating winter squashes roasted with butter, so I’m pretty easy to please!  This recipe looked appealing and has the bonus of using many of the vegetables I already have from the market.  (It actually called for red bell pepper as well but I didn’t have those so I just doubled the zucchini instead.)  It would be simple to double if you’re serving more than three people.  The flavor was great, nice and lemony from the juice and the capers.  It went extremely well with the salmon I served it with and also the jerk chicken that Art made for himself.  

Shown here with Grilled Sweet and Saucy Salmon.

Internet - Food TV