![\"SPAGHETTI](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shescookin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Spaghetti-Squash-Moroccan-Tomato-Jam-e1450191642305.jpg?resize=492%2C750&ssl=1\")
By this point you should have your Thanksgiving menu decided upon and your grocery list done. HA! I have fragments of ideas ricocheting around in my brain and past issues of favorite Bon App\u00e9tit Thanksgiving issues opened to appetizing sides, and still confuse myself by gazing at delicious creations in the blogosphere.<\/p>\n
Two things have been decided upon: for the first time I didn’t order an organic turkey, but rather a diminutive boned turkey breast and, with most of October spent traveling and College Girl only having four days off, we are looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving at home and not being among the thousands of travelers flying the unfriendly skies!<\/p>\n
So today’s post is a quickie because I’ve got work to do – and so do you \ud83d\ude09 I’m not going to tempt you with yet another idea for a Thanksgiving side, but rather a rustic, flavorful vegetarian dish that’s sure to please any non-carnivores or gluten intolerant guests at your feast as well as fulfill everyone’s craving for lighter fare after days of indulging in turkey and all the rich fixins. My Moroccan obsession, first realized in June with Moroccan Chicken and Green Beans<\/a>, was reignited after reading Food Wandering’s <\/a>review of\u00a0 Paula Wolfert’s The Food of Morocco<\/strong><\/em> cookbook. I guess I didn’t win that giveaway, darn!<\/p>\n Silken strands of\u00a0 Spaghetti squash became the vehicle for my rendition of Moroccan tomato jam flavored with aromatic Ras el Hanout<\/strong><\/span>*, cinnamon, and saffron water.\u00a0 When Shulie said that nearly all the recipes in the cookbook that include saffron, add it in the form of saffron water\u2014crumbled, dried, and crushed saffron threads soaked in warm water – and, besides being more economical, it brings out more of the spice\u2019s aroma and flavor; I was excited to try it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can also roast the squash if time permits or the day before. To roast: slice the squash in half lengthwise, place in a baking dish cut side down with 1\/2 inch of water and roast at 350\u00b0F until a fork an easily be inserted into the flesh, about 35-45 minutes depending on size.<\/p>\n **Vegans can substitute raw sugar, agave, brown rice syrup or other preferred sweetener for the honey.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Enjoy!<\/p>\n *Ras el Hanout<\/span> can contain more than 30 ingredients and is a traditional Moroccan blend of herbs and spices, popular across the Middle East and North Africa. The name means \u201chead of the shop\u201d in Arabic and represents the very pinnacle of spice blends – for Moroccan souks (spice merchants) it’s a point of honor to have the most sought after version of this blend. Ingredients include saffron, paprika, cumin, ginger, coriander, tumeric, fennel seed, and allspice to name a few. I’ve been in love with a quality aromatic blend of Ras el Hanout from Awaken Savor Spices <\/a>since “discovering” them at the Taste of Huntington Beach two years ago and use the spice to flavor stews, soups, eggs, and as a dry rub or mixed with olive oil to brush on meats, poultry, or fish.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"SPAGHETTI](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shescookin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Spaghetti-Squash-with-Tomato-Jam-1593.jpg?resize=600%2C429&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shescookin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Spaghetti-Squash-with-Tomato-Jam-1593-1.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\tSpaghetti Squash with Moroccan Tomato Jam<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPrep Time<\/div>\n\t\t\t15<\/span> mins<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCook Time<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t30<\/span> mins<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTotal Time<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t45<\/span> mins<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\tSilken strands of Spaghetti squash and a Moroccan flavored tomato jam with aromatic Ras el Hanout*, cinnamon, and saffron water will satisfy everyone at the table: paleo, vegan, vegetarian, and carnivore alike.<\/em>\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCourse:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tMain, Vegan\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCuisine:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tMoroccan\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tServings<\/span>: 3<\/span> -4 servings<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tAuthor<\/span>: Priscilla<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\tIngredients<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\tInstructions<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Rinse whole squash. Using a meat fork, poke 6 holes in the skin. Microwave for 12 minutes. Allow to cool. Cut in half, scoop out seeds and discard. Using the meat fork, scrape the squash pulp out of the shell and transfer to a glass bowl. Set aside. I used only one of the halves for this recipe and saved the other for another use.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMeanwhile, prepare the saffron water. Crush 1\/2 teaspoon of saffron threads, add to a heated pan, stir for a minute to release the flavors. Remove and crush again. Pour 1 cup hot water over. Reserve 2 tablespoons and refrigerate the remainder in a glass container for up to 3 weeks.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHeat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add crushed garlic, cook for 1 minute. Add the Ras el Hanout and cook for another minute to release the flavors.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdd the tomatoes, using a large spoon to break into chunks. Add the saffron water. Cook until all liquid is evaporated and you \u2018re left with a thick jam, stirring to prevent the mixture from sticking and browning. About 15 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in cinnamon and honey.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn a medium-sized skillet, saute the spinach in a tablespoon of olive oil and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes over medium heat until softened. Mix in spaghetti squash. Top with tomato jam and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ol>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\tRecipe Notes<\/div>\n\t\t![\"Spaghetti](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/shescookin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Spaghetti-Squash-with-Tomato-Jam-1599.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\nHappy Thanksgiving to you and your family!<\/span><\/h2>\n