Receta Spaghetti Squash with Ginger Meatballs
I love spaghetti squash.
Mon mari tolerates spaghetti squash.
However, he loves meatballs.
Compromise:
He’ll happily eat spaghetti squash as often as I want if I top it with meatballs.
I can work with that.
Spaghetti Squash with Ginger Meatballs
Total time: 60 minutes
Ingredients:
- 12oz (360gr) ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup crumbs
- 1 tbs Dijon-style mustard
- 1 tbs soy sauce
- 1 tbs Balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbs minced ginger, divided in half
- 2 cloves garlic, minced divided in half
- 1 onion, chopped divided 1/4 / 3/4
- 1 tbs dried parsley, divided in half
- 1 tbs dried thyme, divided in half
- 1 medium spaghetti squash
- Sauce:
- half of the ginger, garlic, herbs, 3/4 onion
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 15oz (450gr) whole tomatoes, chopped, with juices
- 1 tbs tomato paste
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
Instructions:
Cut the spaghetti squash in half the short way and scoop out the seeds.
Place cut-side down in a baking dish and bake for 45 – 60 minutes at 400F, until the shell pierces easily.
Using a fork, scrape out the strands of squash and put into 2 flattish bowls.
In a large bowl, lightly beat egg with a fork.
Add bread crumbs, mustard, vinegar, soy sauce, half of the ginger, garlic, herbs and the 1/4 minced onion.
Mix well, add beef, mix well (use your hands).
Form into meatballs, about 1.5″ (5cm) in diameter.
In large nonstick skillet heat oils over medium heat.
Add paprika and sauté briefly.
Add remaining onion, garlic, ginger and pepper. Sauté until tender and onion is transparent, 5 – 6 minutes.
Add tomatoes, sauce, tomato paste, soy sauce and remaining herbs.
Heat to a simmer.
Drop the meatballs in carefully, trying to keep them separate. Cover and simmer until meatballs are done, about 15 minutes. Stir once or twice.
Spoon meatballs and sauce over the spaghetti squash and serve.
Learning another language is a wonderful way to learn the language you think you already know.
Especially, if you are asked, as I often am, how to say ‘—‘ in your language. Sometimes, the nuances just can’t be explained – or at least explained easily.
Like the time I was asked to explain the difference between begin and start.
Sometimes I can’t understand the question – because the pronunciation is different.
French doesn’t treat syllables the same way English does. Here is an interesting article (to me, anyway) on the difference in cadence between French and English.
Let me give you an example. One of the people in my conversation group was talking about a movie. She said to me: du-yu-no-wu-dee-a-lane. Say it with equal emphasis on each letter group.
It took four tries before I realized she was saying: do you know Woody Allen.
It all can get rather humorous when I try to explain the difference between, for example, object – the noun meaning a thing and object – the verb meaning to express displeasure.
Or invalid, the adjective, meaning not valid and invalid, the noun, meaning a sick person.
Someone asked me what we talked about in my conversation group – did we discuss news or politics or gardening or what….
Often, all we talk about are words.
And spelling….. Knot is with a ‘k’.
Really.
No, it’s not pronounced.
And then there’s me….
I’m still trying to pronounce au dessus – above and au dessous – below so that I can be understood….
Without the hand gestures.
Last update on January 20, 2016
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