Butternut Squash Noodles
HOW TO CUT AND PEEL BUTTERNUT SQUASH
Butternut squash is tubular in shape with a wide neck part that is seeded. You want to cut the butternut squash right where the shape changes from the tube to the wide neck. You can save that wide piece to peel, seed and chop and roast a later time.
As for the neck of the butternut squash, trim off the end so you can stand it upright on a cutting board, and use a knife or vegetable peeler to remove the skin. Now you’re ready to make noodles! And of all the vegetables, like zucchini noodles and sweet potato noodles that I’ve spiralized, butternut squash was the toughest one. And I think small handheld spiralizers may have a tough time doing the job.
I recommend using something strong and sturdy like the Paderno spiralizer or something similar. And, you want to use the thickest blade to push the butternut squash through the machine. This is the hardest part of the recipe, but if you keep the squash sturdy, it should only take you a couple minutes.
HOW TO COOK BUTTERNUT SQUASH NOODLES
Whether you make the noodles yourself, or you buy the butternut squash noodles already prepared, there are 3 ways to cook butternut squash noodles. You can boil on stovetop, sauté on stovetop or roast in the oven. You could also microwave the noodles, but I haven’t found that to yield the best texture.
way, but it definitely works and it’s great if you already have a pot of boiling noodles or if you’re mixing half pasta and half noodles in one pot. Just be sure to keep an eye on the squash so it doesn’t soften too much.
SAUTÉ ON STOVETOP
First, sauté some aromatics with some fat. So you can use onions or garlic or both with olive oil or butter or other cooking oils. Then, add in the butternut squash noodles and sauté for 7-10 minutes, frequently tossing the noodles with tongs to make sure they’re evenly cooked. As they cook, they will shrink down in size and become softer.
You can then finish it off with fresh herbs, cheese or other add-ins like sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers or olives etc.
ROAST IN OVEN
Finally, the last cooking technique is to roast the butternut squash in the oven. I love roasting all root vegetables, and these butternut squash noodles are no exception. You can line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or just place them directly into a casserole dish with some seasoning and butter or olive oil. It takes only 10 minutes to roast the butternut squash noodles in the oven – a great hands-off approach that!
I often choose the technique that I’ll cook the butternut squash depending on what else I’m serving it with as it’s a side dish. I prefer to sauté, for example, if I’m using the stovetop to cook noodles and shrimp to make pesto spaghetti. Or I might choose the roasting method if I’m serving them with oven-baked salmon.
TIPS FOR MAKING BUTTERNUT SQUASH NOODLES
- Use the long thin neck part of the butternut squash for spiralizing. The bottom part (where the seeds are), called bulbous, is not ideal for spiralizing, because of the uneven shape and the seeds in the middle.
- Don’t overcook the butternut squash noodles. Regardless what method you’re using to cook the noodles, keep an eye on them because the texture changes quickly and can become too soft. You’re looking for a fork tender consistency, where it’s easy to twirl the noodles without them breaking apart on the fork.
- Season while you cook; it will go a lot further than seasoning after. On their own, these butternut squash noodles can be bland. So seasoning them before you cook them will help bring out their sweet and nutty taste.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT TO DO WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH NOODLES?
- Use in a salad like my Asian Noodle Salad
- Add to spaghetti like in Spaghetti and Marinara
- Serve with side or protein and vegetables like I did with my Sweet Potato Noodles
- Make egg nests and bake or fry with eggs
WHAT SAUCE GOES WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH NOODLES?
If you just want to eat the butternut squash noodles on their own, I recommend keeping it simple with the butter or olive oil, salt and pepper and parmesan cheese. But I think the sweet and nutty taste of butternut squash lends itself really well to a creamy sauce like Alfredo or a mushroom sauce.
CAN I FREEZE BUTTERNUT SQUASH NOODLES?
Yes, you can freeze butternut squash noodles. But if you’re going to freeze them, I recommend doing so before cooking them. Squash retains a lot of water which can yield to a mushy consistency if frozen and thawed. To freeze the uncooked butternut squash noodles, simply place in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months.
