I love unexpected flavor combinations. If I see something “weird” on the menu at a restaurant, I will likely try it, especially if I already like some of the ingredients. And that was part of the idea behind this dish.
It’s a bunch of ingredients that I like but paired with some unexpected items. It’s weird, but oh-so tasty (and pretty healthy too).
Related: 40 Easy 30-Minute Dinner Ideas and 60 Easy Dinner Recipes
I also think the seasoning and cooking method in this recipe makes the spaghetti squash taste SO much like glass noodles.
Stir Fry Spaghetti Squash, serves 2-3.
1 spaghetti squash
1 15 oz. can garbanzo beans (also called chickpeas)
1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
3 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar or maple syrup
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon chopped, fresh cilantro
1/4 cup peanuts or cashews, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
salt + pepper
First roast the spaghetti squash. You can read my usual method here. Once you remove the squash strands, allow to cool on a plate or two. Then place in a large ziplock bag, seal (do not remove the air) and refrigerate overnight.
The goal here is to partially dry out the spaghetti squash so it doesn’t get too soggy when we stir fry it.
So just roast a spaghetti squash while you are making dinner one night, store it as I’ve just mentioned, and then the next night you’ll only be about twenty minutes away from having dinner ready.
Chop up the garlic. Drain the garbanzo beans from their juices. Thaw the peas and carrots. Then, in a large sauce pan or skillet, heat the olive oil over medium/high heat.
Toss in the garlic and cook for one minute until very fragrant. Toss in the spaghetti squash and season with a little salt. Allow that to cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir only as needed so it doesn’t stick to the pan.
In the meantime, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar and sesame oil in a small bowl or glass. Stir to combine.
Now toss in the garbanzo beans, peas, and carrots and pour the sauce over everything. Stir and allow to cook for another 4-6 minutes, until most of the sauce/juices are removed. You can use this time to chop the cilantro and nuts.
When you’re ready to serve toss the cilantro and nuts over the top. If you are using the red pepper flakes you can toss them on now too. If you have a lime around, serve with a lime wedge (a little citrus never hurt anything… except milk… that’s buttermilk). Enjoy! xo. Emma
Get our FREE recipe guide with our most popular recipes of all time!
Free Popular Recipe Guide
Our top 25 recipes of all time!
Get the Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 spaghetti squash
- 1 15 oz. can garbanzo beans (also called chickpeas)
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped (fresh cilantro)
- ¼ cup peanuts or cashews (chopped)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- salt + pepper
Instructions
- First roast the spaghetti squash. You can read my usual method here. Once you remove the squash strands, allow to cool on a plate or two. Then place in a large ziplock bag, seal (do not remove the air) and refrigerate overnight. The goal here is to partially dry out the spaghetti squash so it doesn’t get too soggy when we stir fry it. So just roast a spaghetti squash while you are making dinner one night, store it as I’ve just mentioned, and then the next night you’ll only be about twenty minutes away from having dinner ready.
- Chop up the garlic. Drain the garbanzo beans from their juices. Thaw the peas and carrots. Then, in a large sauce pan or skillet, heat the olive oil over medium/high heat. Toss in the garlic and cook for one minute until very fragrant. Toss in the spaghetti squash and season with a little salt. Allow that to cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir only as needed so it doesn’t stick to the pan.
- In the meantime, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar and sesame oil in a small bowl or glass. Stir to combine.
- Now toss in the garbanzo beans, peas, and carrots and pour the sauce over everything. Stir and allow to cook for another 4-6 minutes, until most of the sauce/juices are removed. You can use this time to chop the cilantro and nuts. When you’re ready to serve toss the cilantro and nuts over the top. If you are using the red pepper flakes you can toss them on now too.
Made this tonight as my inaugural spaghetti squash dish and it was tasty indeed! Excellent recipe Emma. 🙂
Totally trying your overnight dry-out method. One thing that keeps me from loving spaghetti squash is it’s tendency toward watery-ness. Hope this solves that issue!
Oh my goodness love the Asian fusion going on here. I have to definitely make this soon!
I’m a huge fan of spaghetti squash in Italian dishes, but I’d never seen it used this way before. This looks delicious, I’ll for sure be trying this recipe 🙂
Amber
amberbutbetter.blogspot.com
I’m just here for all the food pictures xx.
jeansandmacaroons.blogspot.com
Oh, this looks and sounds really good! I’ve never seen this before.
xo Jennie
YUM! This looks so good!!
Build your confidence inside & out: http://www.collectivepassions.com
Emma, you are a genius! You have just combined two of my favorite foods – Chinese and spaghetti squash! I can’t wait to try this one out. Thank you for the recipe!!
mmm, i’ve been dying to try to make spaghetti squash but i’m intimidated for some reason!
xx nikki
www.dream-in-neon.com
PINNED! My husband and I LOVE spaghetti squash, and eat it many times a month! We are always looking for new ways to cook with it… so excited to try this stir fry!
Sarah Alves
This looks pretty delicious!
http://charlottesophiaroberts.blogspot.co.uk
ooh…i love spaghetti squash but tend to make it the same way every time i make it which is with a pink sauce and sausage. i love asian flavors so next time i buy spaghetti squash, i’m going to try your recipe! thanks!
www.waterlilyshop.com
@waterlilyshop
That looks so good!
Good for healthy and delicious
www.preparadaslistasya.com
This looks yummy and I will definitely give it a go!
I’m so excited to try this recipe. So delicious! So inspirational!
www.trangscorner.com
looks great!
can you please give me a like to my picture? it’s for a compatition/ thanks!
https://www.facebook.com/SoftwareAG.Israel.SPL/photos/pb.177022865677721.-2207520000.1421216840./824539290926072/?type=3&theater
Lol. The last line of this post made me giggle. I love Emma’s writing style and recipes! Yum 🙂
oh what a great idea! looks so yum!
Looks amazing.. Now where could I go to get squash in Sydney….?