Paleo Spaghetti Squash Bolognese

Serves: 4
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 medium spaghetti squash
• 1 large onion finely diced
• 2 large carrots peeled and finely diced
• 2 large celery stalks finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 lb grass fed ground beef (or ½ lb pork and ½ lb beef)
• ½ tsp oregano
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• ⅓ cup coconut milk
• Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
• Ghee or coconut oil
• Sea salt and black pepper

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400*F and line a baking sheet. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Brush the inside of the squash with ghee or oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Place the squash face down on the baking sheet and roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
3. While the squash is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the garlic, onion and ghee or oil. After 2 minutes, add the carrot and celery, cooking until tender (about 3 minutes).
4. Add your ground meat to the skillet, sprinkle with salt, pepper and oregano. Cook until brown.
5. Once the meat is browned, add in the marinara sauce and coconut milk and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Let simmer for 5-10 minutes. (If your child prefers a smooth texture, add the bolognese sauce to a blender and pulse for a few seconds.)
6. Use a fork to scrape the spaghetti strands from the squash and place in a serving bowl before topping with bolognese sauce and garnishes, and enjoy! (You can also scrape the spaghetti strands and then top with bolognese sauce in the spaghetti squash shell – fun for kids!).

Tips:

Health Benefits

Coconut: Coconuts contain medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) which stimulate energy through a process called thermogenesis. Coconut is also rich in phenols, which are antioxidants and help the body to fight and remove free radicals, protecting it from disease.

Garlic: Garlic contains a number of important nutrients including manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium, and fiber. It is also a great immune booster!