Baked spaghetti squash with spinach and cheese

Serves: 6

Total time: 140 minutes

It can be prepared ahead, then baked just before ready to serve. Swiss chard can be used as a substitute for spinach as it is in season with spaghetti squash. Separate the green leaves from the white. Dice the white stems and steam with green leaves.

Ingredients

6 cups cooked spaghetti squash (from about 1 large squash)
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup minced onion
3 Tbsp flour
2 cups 2% or skim milk
1 cup fat free chicken broth (vegetable broth for vegetarian)
3 Tbsp tomato salsa
4 oz reduced fat cheddar cheese
salt and pepper, to taste
4 cups (about 4 oz) baby spinach, steamed for 3 minutes
1/4 cup grated parmesan

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
Cut the squash in half lengthwise; remove and discard seeds. Place squash on a baking sheet. Bake until tender, about 1 hour. Separate the strands of squash with a fork and place in a medium bowl; discard shells. Maintain the oven temperature.

Heat butter and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and cook about 2 minutes. Stir in flour. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring continually 3 - 4 minutes.
Add milk and chicken broth and continue whisking, raising heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil and becomes smooth and thick, about 2 minutes stirring; season with salt and pepper.
Once it becomes thick, remove from heat, add cheddar cheese and mix well until cheese is melted. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, add cooked spaghetti squash and chopped baby spinach, pour into a baking dish and sprinkle with tomato salsa and Parmesan cheese on top. Bake until bubbly and golden 25 to 30 minutes.