Golden strands of spaghetti squash gently tangle around your fork, contrasting with the robust and hearty chicken ragu. Flecks of fresh herbs bring a dash of color and promise of flavor, while a final dusting of cauliflower 'Parmesan' completes the picturesque composition.

Spaghetti Squash with Hearty Paleo Chicken Ragu

Name: Spaghetti Squash with Hearty Paleo Chicken Ragu
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: medium Spaghetti squash, 1 Halved and seeds removed; free-range Chicken thighs, 300g Diced; medium Onion, 1 Finely chopped; Garlic, 2 cloves Minced; medium Carrot, 1 Finely chopped; Celery, 1 stalk Finely chopped; Organic diced Tomatoes, 400g can None; Chicken broth, 1/2 cup None; Fresh basil, 2 tbsp Chopped; Fresh oregano, 1 tbsp Chopped; Cauliflower, 2 cups Riced; Nutritional yeast, 1 tbsp None; Extra virgin Olive oil, To taste None; Sea salt, To taste None; Black pepper, To taste None

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 60 minutes

Style Italian

Technique Roasting

Diet Friendly Paleo

Daily Recipe: December 06, 2023

This warm and comforting Paleo-approved dish takes a twist on classic Italian flavors, incorporating seasonal ingredients to keep things fresh and interesting. Key ingredients include spaghetti squash, a low-carb alternative to traditional pasta, and a hearty chicken ragu sauce filled with fresh herbs and vegetables.

Ingredients (for 2)

Medium spaghetti squash - 1 - Halved and seeds removed
Free-range chicken thighs - 300g - Diced
Medium onion - 1 - Finely chopped
Garlic - 2 cloves - Minced
Medium carrot - 1 - Finely chopped
Celery - 1 stalk - Finely chopped
Organic diced tomatoes - 400g can - None
Chicken broth - 1/2 cup - None
Fresh basil - 2 tbsp - Chopped
Fresh oregano - 1 tbsp - Chopped
Cauliflower - 2 cups - Riced
Nutritional yeast - 1 tbsp - None
Extra virgin olive oil - To taste - None
Sea salt - To taste - None
Black pepper - To taste - None

Preparation

Step 1 - 🌡️🍝🔥

Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Season the inside of the spaghetti squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place it cut-side-down on a baking sheet and roast for 40 minutes or until it's tender.
Step 2 - 🍳🍗🌡️

Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan. Then, sauté the chicken pieces until browned. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
Step 3 - 🥕🍅🍲

Using the same pan, sauté the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery until softened. Next, add the chicken, diced tomatoes, and chicken broth. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes while stirring occasionally.
Step 4 - 🧄🧂🍚

Combine the riced cauliflower with nutritional yeast and a pinch of salt. Put it aside.
Step 5 - 🌿🍝🍴

Into the ragu, stir the fresh basil and oregano, and season it to taste. Remove the spaghetti squash from the oven, allow it to cool slightly, and scrape the insides into spaghetti strands using a fork.
Step 6 - 🍽️🍝🧀

To serve, top the spaghetti squash with the hearty chicken ragu and sprinkle the cauliflower 'Parmesan' on top for a loaded, delicious plate.

Additional

For an exciting twist, mix in diced zucchini or bell peppers into the ragu! Children can help by scraping out the cooked spaghetti squash into 'spaghetti'. Be careful, squash will be hot. Also, make sure to use a heatproof kitchen mitt!