Microwave Spaghetti Squash with Sage-Browned Butter and Toasted Walnuts

• Vegetarian
• Gluten free
• Paleo

• Produce

  • 1 3-pound spaghetti squash
  • 2 tbsp Sage, fresh

• Baking & Spices

  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper
  • 1 1/4 tsp Kosher salt, coarse

• Oils & Vinegars

  • 1 tsp Olive oil, Extra Virgin

• Nuts & Seeds

  • 1/2 cup Walnuts

• Dairy

  • 2 tbsp Butter, salted sweet

Found on twohealthykitchens.com

Ingredients

• 1 3-pound spaghetti squash
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1¼ teaspoons coarse kosher salt, divided
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper, divided
• ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons butter (sweet, salted)
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh sage

Directions

• With a large, sharp knife, carefully split squash in half lengthwise and remove seeds and membranes with a spoon. Brush the flesh of each squash half evenly with ½ teaspoon olive oil, then sprinkle each half with ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/16 teaspoon of black pepper.
• Place squash, skin side up, in a 9x13 baking dish. Microwave on full power for 15-20 minutes, until the tops give slightly under pressure when gently pressed (checking for doneness every couple of minutes at the end of cooking time.) Let sit about 10 minutes until cool enough to handle (or handle with oven mitts), and then use a fork to shred squash into a large serving bowl. (If your squash is a bit overcooked and a little watery, you can place it in a colander for a few minutes to drain before using a slotted spoon to transfer it to the bowl. Read further tips on this in the full recipe post.)
• Meanwhile, while squash is cooking, toast walnuts in a small skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Remove from heat as soon as the walnuts smell fragrant or begin to lightly brown. Set walnuts aside and carefully wipe out skillet.
• In the same skillet, over medium-low heat, melt butter and cook, gently swirling the pan or stirring occasionally, until the butter has foamed and begun to turn a light golden-brown. (This will take about 3-4 minutes, varying greatly depending on how powerful your burners are.) Add the sage and continue browning the butter a little further, about 1 minute, just until the butter has turned a richer golden-brown with little specks of milk solids in the bottom of the pan. Remove the butter from the heat and stir in remaining ¾ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper.
• Add toasted walnuts and browned butter sauce to spaghetti squash and stir gently to thoroughly combine. Serve immediately from the bowl, or (if youd like to present this as a stuffed spaghetti squash), by piling the squash mixture back into one of the spaghetti squash shells.