How To Roast Butternut Squash Cubes
The best way to roast butternut squash cubes is with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Of course, you can add any seasonings you like. Roasted butternut squash cubes are a fantastic side dish to any meal, but are also perfect on salads. They are tasty on a vegetarian taco or this fall-inspired flatbread. Roasting the squash brings out the flavor, so you can also use this method of cooking squash if youre making squash soup. Its an extra step, but its often worth it its amazing in this roasted butternut squash soup.
How Long Does It Take To Cook Butternut Squash In The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
There are two main advantages of pressure cooking winter squash. Its fast and its easy. Dump it in your pot, set it, and walk away until you hear the timer beep indicating its finished cooking.
- Halved Butternut Squash: HIGH pressure, 8-10 minutes, quick pressure release
- Cubed Butternut Squash: HIGH pressure, 3 minutes, quick pressure release
However, there is one key advantage of roasting butternut squash versus cooking it in the Instant Pot caramelization. Yes, the deliciously caramelized, slightly crispy, edges that can only be reached by slowly roasting in the oven. Unfortunately, roasting takes more than twice as long when compared to cooking it your pressure cooker at nearly an hour for halved squash and 25-35 minutesfor cubed squash. Worth it? Sometimes. For me, this depends entirely on the day and the recipe, so Ill let you be the judge.
For Instant Pot Shredded Cabbage:
- Remove the flimsy outer leaves from your cabbage and shred it. I prefer to shred mine in the food processor because it is easy to clean and very fast. You can also do this with a mandoline slicer or a knife, of course.
- Place 1-2 cups of water or broth in the inner pot, then place the cabbage in. You dont need to use the trivet or steaming basket for this.
- Cook on high for 2 minutes.
- For soups or for a softer result: Let the pot naturally release pressure.
- For a side or crisper result: Perform a quick release to finish up with.
- Check out these 20 Instant Pot cabbage recipes and make sure to try out Sri Lankan Coconut Cabbage.
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How Many Net Carbs Are In Spaghetti Squash
Well, it depends on how much you eat. With the high fat and protein content, you should feel full with less than you would imagine.
One cup of spaghetti squash only has 5.5g of net carbs! Donât let the overall carb count intimidate you.
It is packed with fiber, which brings the net carb count down to a totally acceptable low carb level.
As someone who has lived a keto lifestyle for quite some time now, I can tell you that one of the hardest things to give up is pastaâbut not any longer!
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How To Make Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
Pressure cooking is a wonderful way to make squash. To cook spaghetti squash in this Instant Pot spaghetti squash recipe, you should start by poking it all over. When cooking a spaghetti squash whole, this helps it cook more evenly by allowing the steam to penetrate.
Next, you place 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot bowl and place the trivet inside. The spaghetti squash should fit perfectly on the trivet.
Once the lid is closed, you should ensure that you set the valve of the pressure cooker to the sealing position so that the pressure cooker comes under high pressure. You can use either a small, medium or large spaghetti squash for this pressure cooker spaghetti squash recipe, so you should adjust the timings accordingly. A medium to large squash should take a total time of 25 minutes in the pressure cooker under high pressure.
After pressure cooking the squash, you should release the steam via quick release. This is where you push the valve from the sealing to venting position to release the steam. If you are uncomfortable with this step, wearing oven gloves can help ensure you dont burn your hands. I also recommend that you operate your Instant Pot in an open space so that you dont get steam all over your cupboards.
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Does Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Taste Like Pasta
Um, no. Lets not fool ourselves. As delicious and nourishing as veggie noodles are, they do not taste like real pasta.
Actually, spaghetti squash has a slight sweet and nutty taste. Although this isnt necessarily a bad thing. In fact, its a very good thing!
Why? Because the mellow flavor of the noodles takes on the flavor of whatever sauce you serve with them.
ALSO, making spaghetti squash in an Instant Pot cooks it to al dente. That is the preferred way to enjoy spaghetti/pasta, am I right? Just a little bit of a bite rather one big soggy pile of squash.
Can I Cook A Whole Squash Without Cutting It
The simple answer to this is, YES, of course, you can!
The more complicated answer is that it depends on the size of your squash and how you want to use it. To ensure the entire squash is cooked, you may end up with a more mushy texture than you desire but a little less prep just might make that worth it to you!
Cooking a whole squash in the Instant Pot, especially those hard to chop butternut or sunshine squash, is actually a great technique to make the entire process a lot easier!
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Instant Pot Butternut Squash
Putting the whole butternut squash in the Instant Pot is the best way to cook it because it’s so fast and easy it practically cooks its self. You just place the squash on a rack or trivet, add a cup of water and turn it on.
Using the pressure cooker is also great for busy weeknights. You can cook your main dish while the Instant Pot is cooking the squash.
Depending on which Instant Pot model you have, you’ll want to make sure your squash fits in the cooking pot without going above the max fill line. A medium-sized butternut squash will fit in the 6-quart models and a large butternut squash will fit in the larger 8-quart cooking pot.
Once the squash is cooked, let the pressure release naturally vs. using a quick release. Remove the lid and carefully lift the hot squash from the pot onto a cutting board. Once it’s cool enough to handle just cut it in half and scoop out the seeds. Your butternut squash is ready for eating or using in a recipe!
Instant Pot Acorn Squash
Acorn squash is similar to butternut squash, but its got an entirely different flavour. Its a bit nutty and a little less sweet, but it is delicious nonetheless. Its large cavity makes it fantastic for stuffing with sausage, meat, grains, and fall flavour infusions with dried fruits, fresh herbs, and more. Its also a healthy side dish. Personally, I love mine with a healthy spoonful of grass-fed butter and cinnamon.
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How To Cook Acorn Squash In The Oven
You can easily prepare acorn squash in the oven by following these steps:
- Preheat. Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Cut and remove seeds. Cut the acorn squash in half and, using a fork and a grapefruit spoon, remove the seeds from the squash.
- Cook. Bake for 1 hour, skin side down, until it is easily pierced by a fork.
- Serve. You can now use the prepared acorn squash to make a soup, cut it up and serve it with a little bit of butter, sugar and cinnamon or serve it with some salt and pepper.
How To Flavor Butternut Squash
- Classic: Butter + salt and pepper
- Fancy: Brown Butter + salt and pepper
- Sweet: Butter + cinnamon + sugar, honey, or maple syrup
- Thanksgiving Style: Butter + sage, thyme, and rosemary
Whew! That was a lot of butternut squash info there! I hope my research and experiments have been helpful to you.
If you have any favorite recipes for butternut squash, let me know! I’ve got a wheelbarrow full of it and I don’t want a drop of it to go to waste.
Oh, hey there, cute little photo bomber
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How To Make Instant Pot Acorn Squash
- Add water. Add about a cup of water to the Instant Pot.
- Place. Place a silicone trivet into the pot. This helps create a barrier between the acorn squash and the bottom of the pot so the squash doesn’t end up getting a burnt spot on it while it cooks.
- Poke holes. Using a small, sharp knife, poke holes in the acorn squash. This allows the steam to escape from the inside of the squash. Don’t skip this step! If left unpierced, the squash can explode inside your Instant Pot.
- Cook. Okay, so there are two different functions you can use to steam acorn squash in the Instant Pot. There is the Pressure Cook function and the Steam function. In this case, you’ll be using the Pressure Cook function. Cook the acorn squash at high pressure for 6 minutes.
- Release pressure. Allow the pot to rest and release pressure naturally for 5 minutes, then manually release all of the remaining pressure.
- Check. Open the pot and use a knife to check if it is done cooking. If you can easily pierce the outside of the acorn squash with a knife, it’s done.
- Remove. Using two ladles or large spoons, carefully remove the hot squash from the Instant Pot. I wouldn’t suggest using the handles of the trivet as I attempted to do so and ended up dropping the squash into the pot, causing hot water to splash all over the place. And believe me, you don’t want hot water splashed on your face.
- Cut and remove seeds. Cut the acorn squash in half and, using a fork and a grapefruit spoon, remove the seeds from the squash.
How To Freeze Chopped Butternut Squash
- Line a sheet pan with nonstick foil or a Silpat liner. Scatter cooked or uncooked cubes of squash on the pan and place it in the freezer. Once frozen, put them in a freezer-safe ziplock.
- For cooked squash, let it thaw in the fridge. For uncooked squash, you can throw them frozen into the Instant Pot and cook for 9 minutes with a quick pressure release.
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How To Serve Cooked Butternut Squash
Its easy to love butternut squash. Incredibly healthy, butternut squash is fat-free, full of fiber, and jam-packed with Vitamin A. There are a million ways to dish it up.
Unless you are watching your sodium intake, I highly recommend a nice sprinkle of salt. A little salt helps bring out the natural sweetness, amplifying the flavors. Serve it as a healthy side dish or use it with other awesome recipes.
If youre looking to add a little extra flavor without a whole lot of fuss, try:
- Drizzle with maple syrup, melted butter, and ground cinnamon
- Mash with sweet potatoes, tahini, and lemon juice
- Puree with a little coconut milk, chicken stock, or vegetable broth for a luscious, healthy, creamy Instant Pot butternut squash soup
- Sneak into oatmeal, sauces, or smoothies
Or, enjoy it plain, by the spoonful.
Spaghetti Squash Is A Great Pasta Substitute
It wasnt til I went Paleo that I finally sampled a spaghetti squashbut I undercooked it and turned my nose up at the squeaky, bland vegetable strands. But heyIm open-minded. I gave spaghetti squash a second chance at a swanky vegetarian restaurant, and thats when I finally had an epiphanythis gourds pretty awesome if its properly cooked and smothered in a delicious sauce. Its not quite a pasta substitute, but this noodle-y veggie is a fabulous vehicle for an umami-packed sauce.
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Time To Make Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
Makes 2 servings
- Steamer Insert
Method:
With a paring knife, cut the spaghetti squash in half, crosswise.
Youll get longer strands of spaghetti squash if you cut it in half crosswise instead of lengthwise. See how the strands run in concentric circles around the core?
With a large spoon, scoop out the seeds in the center of the squash and discard the gunk.
Place the steamer insert/trivet into your pressure cooker.
Add 1 cup of water to the pot.
Place the squash halves on the steamer insert. I put them cut-side up, but it doesnt really matter which way is up.
Place the lid on the pressure cooker
and cook under high pressure for 7 minutes. On an Instant Pot, press the Manual button or Pressure Cook and hold the + or – button until the display changes to 7.
When the squash is finished cooking, release the valve at the top of the pressure cooker to rapidly lower the pressure.
Remove the lid from the pot and tip the squash halves to pour out the collected liquid. Check on the doneness by poking the squash with a fork. I like my spaghetti squash to be tender, but still toothsomenever squeaky.
Take the squash out of the pot and shred with a fork.
Whee! Instant Pot spaghetti squash!
Remember: spaghetti squash is bland until you add your favorite topping and sauce, so try topping it with the pork filling from my Vietnamese Lettuce Cups !
For Sliced Or Cubed Acorn Squash:
- Peel the acorn squash if desired. You can eat the skin or wait until you cook it to peel it because it will come off effortlessly. Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds.
- Cut the acorn squash into uniform slices or cubes.
- Cook on high pressure for 6-7 minutes and follow up with a quick release. For cubes, lean towards a 6-minute cooking time. For slices, lean towards a 7-minute cooking time.
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For Whole & Halved Brussels Sprouts:
- Wash your brussels sprouts first. You can choose now to halve them or keep them whole. Halving them will work better if you want a more authentic roasted end result.
- Place a steaming rack or the trivet into the pot along with one cup of water. Then, place the brussels sprouts into it.
- Cook the sprouts on HIGH for 1 minute and follow up with a quick release of pressure. The 1-minute cooking window is better for halved sprouts or small sprouts. Cook for 2 minutes if you have large, whole sprouts.
- Once the sprouts are softened, you can set them aside. Pour out the water you used to cook with.
- Set the pot to saute mode and add 1-2 tbsp. of coconut oil, olive oil or butter . A high smoke point is ideal. Now, add the sprouts back in. You can add a little garlic, lemon or herbs
- Saute until crispy with desired spices and serve.
What About Cooking Squash In The Microwave
So, yes, it is possible to cook squash in the microwave.
Doing it that way would also keep your kitchen cool and it is relatively quick, but heres the thing
The Instant Pot is going to cook the squash in about the same amount of time with lots less babysitting!
Plus, I truly believe the result is way better in the Instant Pot. The microwave has a tendency to make everything just a little too mushy while also being rubbery and that texture combo is just NOT my favorite thing.
In our house, we try to use the microwave as little as possible. Weve found over and over again that the non-microwave methods of preparing foods are almost always just as easy and actually make the food taste a whole lot better.
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Spaghetti Squash How To Cook Whole:
Special Tip: You can find these directions, along with measurements, nutrition and more in the sharable recipe card in the next section!
Up next, a sharable recipe card for the best spaghetti squash vegetarian recipes
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Cubed Or Halved
Whats even better is that we are going to offer you three different ways to make this super easy recipe. With option one, all you need is the squash and water. This option only takes three minutes too!
Option two is just as quick but you need the oil to brown the squash first. And option three is even easier because all you have to do is halve the squash instead of cutting it into cubes. But it does take a few more minutes.
Whether you make this delicious dish using options one, two, or three, it only takes a few minutes and a couple of ingredients. As long as you have butternut squash and oil along with your instant pot, you can have this healthy and decadent dish as a side or an entrée in less than 10 minutes. This will end up being one of your favorite side dishes.
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