Spaghetti squash

Courge spaghetti

What it is

Cooked, the flesh separates into long strands that come away with a fork — the cells are arranged in fibres rather than a mass. A Japanese seed company introduced it to America in 1934 as the vegetable spaghetti, and the name stuck to the joke.

In the kitchen

Roast it halved and cut-side down, then rake it lengthwise. Cutting it into rings first gives you longer strands.

Goes with

Parmesan Garlic Olive oil Basil Tomato Butter Black pepper Sage

Same species

Butternut squash Courgette flower Kabocha Muscade de Provence squash Pattypan squash Red kuri squash

In season alongside

Japanese tilefish (amadai) Baek-kimchi Bettarazuke Brousse du Rove Cévennes sweet onion Chayote

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