Get your sauce ready because January 4th is National Spaghetti Day. Typically made from semolina flour, spaghetti originated in Italy, but has become a worldwide favorite. Although there are countless spaghetti and pasta dishes, we want you to try a new approach to National Spaghetti Day. This year, we are celebrating spaghetti squash!
Spaghetti Fact: Americans purchased about 1.3 million pounds of spaghetti in the year 2000. If you lined all the noodles in those packages up, they could circle the Earth nine times.
What Is Spaghetti Squash?
Spaghetti squash is very versatile and is low in carbohydrates. Consider this: one cup of regular pasta has 200 calories, while one cup of cooked spaghetti squash only has 42 calories. Like carrots, spaghetti squash contains beta-carotene, which is beneficial for healthy eyesight, lowering cholesterol levels, and great for people with insulin resistance. Additionally, spaghetti squash is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which promote healthy brain function and help to fight heart disease.
Since spaghetti squash is still in season, you should take advantage of the following recipes. Roasting spaghetti squash is the best way to cook it to get the desired spaghetti-like texture.
Baked Spaghetti Squash That Is Vegan And Keto
![baked-spaghetti-squash](https://d3ixge6icd4njv.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/baked-spaghetti-squash.jpg)
Spaghetti squash is a great alternative because it can turn into noodles. It is rich in potassium, vitamins A & C, and it is keto-approved!
Click here to make the recipe.
Spaghetti Squash alla Puttanesca
![spaghetti-squash-putanesca](https://d3ixge6icd4njv.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/spaghetti-squash-putanesca.jpg)
This dish pays homage to an Italian classic. You’ll get to enjoy all the same flavors of a classic puttanesca, but you won’t be eating all the calories from regular spaghetti!
Click here to make the recipe.
Butternut Squash Pasta In A Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
![butternut-squash-pasta](https://d3ixge6icd4njv.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/butternut-squash-pasta.jpg)
This isn’t spaghetti squash, but we couldn’t resist giving you this butternut squash recipe. Butternut squash is in season, after all. These butternut squash noodles are dressed in a thick sauce sun-dried tomato sauce, which makes for a satisfying pasta experience.
Click here to make the recipe.
Bonus Recipe: Pasta all Checa
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This recipe is too similar to spaghetti to exclude it from National Spaghetti Day. Traditionally, this dish is served during the summer because that’s when tomatoes are at their peak. It’s herbaceous and wonderfully filling.
Click here to make the recipe.