Spaghetti squash with tofu, mushrooms and sweet peanut sauce
In this recipe, the “spaghetti” strands are served in the squash shell, loaded up with many delicious things. I chose kale, mushrooms and tofu for maximum heartiness. I go the extra mile and add some of the peanut sauce to the strands, tossing it through before adding the toppings. This makes a huge difference to this dish.
Spaghetti squash is one of the wonders of the cucurbitis, or gourd, family. Its oblong, cylindrical shape is unremarkable, but when cooked, its flesh separates into long, translucent strings that resemble pasta or noodles. The texture of the squash is tender with a slight crunch and offers a very mild flavor.
Despite being around since the 1930s, it was during the late 20th century when, according to Atlas Obscura, spaghetti squash began being marketed to a calorie-conscious public. The long strands were being pushed as a healthier alternative to noodles or pasta, not unlike the rise of “zoodles” (zucchini noodles) in the past decade or two. The problem with this positioning of plant noodles is that you are working with a product with little inbuilt flavor, so coupled with common low calorie preparations, they are often rendered rather tasteless or unsatisfying.
This could be why my mind immediately went to peanut sauce to bring spaghetti squash out of its doldrums. It’s a reliably rich option, with deep nutty notes, and lots of complexity. It is my long held belief that peanut sauce makes everything taste better. This recipe once again proves this theory correct.
Spaghetti squash with tofu, mushrooms and sweet peanut sauce
Ingredients
- 1 medium spaghetti squash (about 800g / 1 ¾ pounds)
- extra virgin olive oil
- sea salt and black pepper
- 1 bunch kale, leaves removed
- 225 g mushrooms such as oyster, torn or sliced
- 200 g store-bought ready baked tofu, sliced into strips
- 2 scallions, trimmed and finely sliced
- handful of crispy fried onions/shallots
Sweet peanut sauce
- 90 g smooth peanut butter
- 80 ml just-boiled water, or more to loosen
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped or grated
- ½ teaspoon red chilli flakes
- 1 1/2 tablespoons kecap manis (or 1 tablespoon soy sauce with 1 teaspoon sugar)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400˚F / 200˚C.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise (through the stalk). Drizzle the cut side with a little olive oil and season with a little sea salt and black pepper. Turn the squash over and poke a few holes into the skin using a fork (this allows for even cooking). Bake until the skin is lightly browned on the outside and a fork inserts easily into the skin and flesh, about 30-40 minutes (it is okay if it is still a bit firm; the time will vary depending on the size of your squash).
- Meanwhile, heat a skillet (frying pan) on medium high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil and the kale, and season with a little sea salt and black pepper. Cook, turning every now and then, until the leaves are wilted and started to get crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, add a little more olive oil, along with the mushrooms. Season with a touch of salt and black pepper and leave to cook, undisturbed until golden, about 2-3 minutes. Flip them over and cook the other side.
- To make peanut sauce, combine the peanut butter, garlic, red pepper (chili) flakes, kecap manis and salt in a small bowl and slowly whisk in the hot water. If the mixture separates, whisk in a touch more water which will bring it back together.
- Remove the spaghetti squash from the oven and flip it over so it’s cut side up. Using a fork, scrape the flesh to loosen the strands from the bottom and sides. Season the strands with a touch of salt and black pepper and add 1-2 tablespoons of the peanut sauce. Toss the squash to coat with the sauce. Top the squash spaghetti with kale, tofu, mushrooms and then drizzle over more of the peanut sauce. Top with scallions and crispy fried onions/shallots.
- Roast honeynut, acorn or butternut squash in the same way, increasing or decreasing cooking time depending upon the size (meaning, cut them in half, season, and roast them cut side down). If your squash is a similar weight to the spaghetti squash in my recipe (about 800g / 1 ¾ pounds), about 30-40 minutes should do it. Simply press the skin of your squash with your finger and if it gives in easily, it’s ready. Once tender, rough up the flesh of your squash with a fork and then layer in the ingredients in the same way. The flesh will not be strands, but more like a mash.
- Stuff a whole baked potato or sweet potato! Pretty much same theory as above but with a large starchy potato (such as russet).
- You could slice thick “steaks” from a cauliflower, drizzle with olive oil, season with sea salt and black pepper and then roast them at 400˚F / 200˚C for 25–30 minutes, until the cauliflower steaks are golden on the outside and tender on the inside. Pile the kale, mushrooms and tofu and peanut sauce on top.
- Simply take rice noodles, rice or even sticky rice, and top with the the kale, mushrooms and tofu and peanut sauce.
