Spaghetti Squash with Roasted Tomatoes, Beans & Almond Pesto

Looking at a tangle of spaghetti squash tricks your brain into thinking you're about to eat a serving of eggy noodles, when in fact, you get a nice calorie and carb savings in this healthy recipe. Giving tomatoes a stint in a hot oven makes them candy-sweet.

Ingredients

Almond Pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves

• 1 cup fresh parsley leaves
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ⅓ cup whole raw almonds
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 ½ tablespoons red-wine vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup water

Spaghetti Squash & Vegetables

• 1 3-pound spaghetti squash
• ¼ cup water
• 2 pints grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 cup canned cannellini beans, rinsed

Directions

• Step 1

  To prepare pesto: Pulse basil, parsley, Parmesan, almonds, garlic, vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a food processor until coarsely chopped, scraping down the sides. With the motor running, add 1/4 cup oil; process until well combined.

• Step 2

  Add water to the pesto in the food processor; pulse to combine.

• Step 3

  To prepare squash & vegetables: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

• Step 4

  Halve squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Place cut-side down in a microwave-safe dish and add water. Microwave on High until the flesh can be easily scraped with a fork, about 15 minutes.

• Step 5

  Meanwhile, toss tomatoes with oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Roast until soft and wrinkled, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven. Add beans and stir to combine.

• Step 6

  Scrape the squash flesh into the bowl and divide among 4 plates. Top each portion with some of the tomato-bean mixture and about 3 tablespoons pesto sauce.

Tips

To make ahead: Refrigerate pesto (Step 1) for up to 5 days.

Tips: Turn leftovers into a pesto-turkey sandwich for lunch: Spread 1 1/2 Tbsp. leftover pesto on 2 slices toasted whole-wheat bread. Top with 3 oz. sliced deli turkey, 2 lettuce leaves and 2 tomato slices.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 1/2 Cups Each

Per Serving:

400 calories; protein 12.2g; carbohydrates 37.2g; dietary fiber 10.4g; fat 26.4g; saturated fat 4.4g; cholesterol 7.8mg; vitamin a iu 3779.5IU; vitamin c 47.3mg; folate 140.4mcg; calcium 262mg; iron 3.8mg; magnesium 97.8mg; potassium 1020.2mg; sodium 498.5mg.

Exchanges: 

1 1/2 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Lean Meat, 4 1/2 Fat

Article credited by : eatingwell.com 
Written by : Karen Ansel, M.S., R.D.N.