A little bacon adds just the right touch to this Easy Spaghetti Squash with Kale and Bacon.
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Spaghetti Squash with Kale and Bacon
Bacon. It's a miracle ingredient, isn't it. It transformed what was a ridiculously simple dinner of spaghetti squash and kale into something wonderful. Still simple, but oh-so-good. This is what simple eating is all about. I had a spaghetti squash sitting in our beer fridge. Yes, we have a beer fridge in our basement, it's an old, vintage Hotpoint with aqua blue insides. It holds beer and overflow from our CSA. It was holding spaghetti squash and kale, two things that take up too much room in our regular fridge. I needed to use them up, because we needed to make room for all the October/Fall/Pumpkin beers that needed to be purchased.
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I brought them upstairs, glanced in our regular fridge and saw some bacon. Hello. Seriously that was all it took to bring it all together. I could have made it a little more complicated, added some garlic and leeks or onions with the kale, even some tomatoes. But I was tired, busy editing high school senior photos for my photography business, so I kept it simple.
I started out by roasting the spaghetti squash whole - just the easiest way for me. I hate struggling to cut a spaghetti squash in half, I'm always afraid I am just seconds away from a trip to the emergency room. Cutting it already cooked is a breeze. After roasting it, while it was cooking, I slowly fried some bacon. I always do my bacon on a medium heat, mainly to minimize splatter on my stove, because I'm lazy like that. Remove the bacon, leave the drippings and saute the kale in the bacon fat. Then just assemble. Easy peasy.
Another favorite spaghetti squash recipe is my Spaghetti Squash Gratin - it's soooo good!
Spaghetti Squash with Kale and Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 large spaghetti squash
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 8 slices of bacon
- 1 bunch kale tough stems removed, leaves roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375. Pierce the spaghetti squash in several places with a sharp knife. Place on a baking sheet. Roast for about 1 hour and 20 minutes, flipping it half way through. Remove from the oven and let cook on a cutting board, until cool enough to handle.
- When the squash is just about cool enough, heat a frying pan over medium heat. Dice the bacon (I just use kitchen scissors and snip it right into the skillet), and saute until desired crispness. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel lined plate to drain.
- Add the kale to the bacon grease, salt and pepper and saute for a few minutes until desired degree of doneness. If you like your kale even more tender, add ¼ cup of water, cover with a lid and let it steam for about 3 minutes.
- Cut open the spaghetti squash and using a fork rake out the strands into a large bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper, toss to combine.
- Divide the squash evenly between 4 plates, and top with kale, and then sprinkle the bacon over the top.
Nutrition
Alyssa says
We also have a beer fridge that holds veggie overflow. Comes in handy! I love the tip about cutting the spaghetti squash once cooked. I always get a little nervous trying to hack through it raw. This way works perfectly!
Diana Johnson says
What a lovely combination of ingredients. Perfect way to use up the spaghetti squash that's been sitting on my counter!
April J Harris says
I do love bacon - and what it can do to other foods too! Your Spaghetti Squash with Kale and Bacon looks amazing, Pam. Pinning.
Lou Lou Girls says
I'm always so amazed by you! This looks so good! Pinned and tweeted. I appreciate you taking the time to party with us. I hope to see you on Monday at 7. Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Amber \ Caleigh's Kitchen says
I was going to cook the spaghetti squash thats been hanging out in my fridge today! This sounds perfect! Thanks for linking up at Try A Bite Tuesday link party again! Hope to see you this week!
April J Harris says
What a fantastic idea to roast the spaghetti squash whole, Pam. I agree, I'm always nervous cutting raw squash. Your recipe sounds delicious - real comfort food - and I love how easy it is to make.
JessicaJ says
Crazily enough, I've never cooked with spaghetti squash. This recipe sounds so delicious (love kale, love bacon-but who doesn't??) I just might have to try experimenting with it for the first time.
Kirsten says
Pam,
You had me at beer fridge. I may have a meat freezer and a fruit/veg freezer, but our single fridge sadly has to hold all the beer and buttery spread and kale from the farm share. Envious. However, in my basement is the 2015 Strategic Winter Squash Reserve, already started up with some acorn squash from the share. I'll look forward to a spaghetti squash because this looks simply lovely.
And I totally know what you mean with hacking open a winter squash!
Joanne says
I suspect my husband would agree with you on bacon being the cure-all of a boring meal! Sounds like a great way to liven up spaghetti squash!