Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash with Duck Fat Apple Juice Glaze (Paleo, AIP, GAPS, Wahls, Whole30)

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spaghetti squash whole in the instant pot, and then cooked and looking like spaghetti

“I feel a recipe is only a theme, which an intelligent cook can play each time with a variation.”
~ Madame Benoit


5 Reasons I Love This Recipe

  1. It’s Easier. You know how hard it is to cut a spaghetti squash in half? Those gourds are hard! Well, you can cook it whole in the Instant Pot, and when it’s done, the knife slices right through the soft skin.
  2. Better Texture. Have you ever eaten mushy spaghetti squash, that has no resemblance to actual spaghetti? By cooking the squash whole, the steam doesn’t get inside. Result: ‘al dente’ noodles that are a much closer pasta substitute.
  3. It’s Faster. If you try to cook a whole spaghetti squash in the oven, it’s going to take you about 90 minutes. If you cut it in half, it still takes 45. This recipe takes just 20 minutes in the Instant Pot.
  4. One Pot = Less Dishes. If you’re like me, you are sick and tired of doing dishes. Thanks to the Sauté function on the Instant Pot, you can cook the squash AND the sauce in the same pot. Easy cleaning!
  5. It’s Yummy. Enough said.
  6. P.S. If you’re new to the Instant Pot, listen to Episode 55 of the Phoenix Helix podcast for tips from the experts.

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Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash with Duck Fat Apple Juice Glaze (Paleo, AIP, GAPS, Wahls, Whole30)


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  • Author: Eileen Laird
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 spaghetti squash (around 3 lbs.)
  • 3/4 cup apple juice
  • 2 Tbsp. duck fat
  • Real salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Put the rack that came with your Instant Pot in the bottom of the stainless steel insert. Pour 1 cup water over it, and set spaghetti squash (whole) on top of the rack.
  2. Quick instructions for the Instant Pot veterans: Cook at high pressure for 20 minutes. Then, quick release the pressure, and skip to step 5.
  3. If you're new to the Instant Pot, here are step-by-step pressure cooking instructions: Close and lock the lid. Turn the pressure knob to the “Sealing” position. Press the Manual button once. You'll see the display light up to indicate high pressure 30 minutes. Press the – button until it reaches 20. Wait 5 seconds, and the pot will beep and the display will say ON. This means it's heating up and building up pressure, which takes about 11 minutes. Once full pressure is reached, the display will switch and start counting down the cooking time (20 minutes). Update: If you bought your Instant Pot in 2018 or later, they updated their display panel. The “manual” button is now called “pressure cook”.
  4. The Instant Pot will beep when the 20 minutes are up. Click the “Cancel” button to turn off the pot. Then carefully turn the pressure knob to the “Venting” position. Be careful – when you do this, hot steam is going to come out of that knob. Just be sure to keep your hands and body clear, and turn the knob just slightly at first. As more pressure is released, you can turn it completely into the venting position, and you’ll feel the knob lift up. Once all the steam is released, you can open the pot. A safety measure on the pot is that the lid is pretty much impossible to turn, when it’s still under pressure.
  5. Use hot pads to lift the squash out of the pot and set it on a cutting board. Cut it in half, and let it start to cool off. (Tip: If you cut the squash horizontally across the middle, instead of lengthwise, you'll get longer noodles.)
  6. Remove the rack and empty the water. Put the stainless steel insert back into pot.
  7. Now it's time to make the sauce in the Instant Pot. Pour the apple juice into the stainless steel insert, and click the “Sauté” button. The display will again light up saying 30 and beneath it the “Normal” light will be lit. Click the “Adjust” button until the display switches from “Normal” to “More.” Wait a few seconds, and the main display  will switch to “On”. Within a few minutes, the juice will start simmering. Let it simmer for about 3 minutes to reduce the liquid and concentrate the flavor. Then add the duck fat and stir until melted. Click the “Cancel” button to turn off the Instant Pot. Update: If you bought your Instant Pot in 2018 or later, just click the sauté button repeatedly to switch from “normal” to “more” (the “adjust” button has been removed in newer models). 
  8. Scoop out the seeds from the spaghetti squash and throw them away. Then, use a fork to scrape the spaghetti squash noodles into the pot. Season generously with sea salt, and toss to coat evenly with the glaze. Taste, and add more salt if needed.

Don't Have An Instant Pot? Here's the Oven-Stovetop Method

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. With a small sharp knife, prick the whole squash all over. Place in a 9×13 pan and roast 45 minutes. Turn over and roast another 30-45 minutes, until tender when pierced with fork. Use hot pads to transfer squash to cutting board and cut in half. When cool enough to handle, scoop out the seeds and throw them away. Then, use a fork to scrape the spaghetti squash noodles into a large bowl.
  2. In a small saucepan, bring juice to a simmer over medium-high heat & simmer about 5 minutes to reduce and concentrate flavor. Add duck fat and stir to blend. Remove from heat and pour over the cooked squash. Season generously with sea salt, and toss to coat evenly with the glaze. Taste, and add more salt if needed.

Notes

  1. I like “al dente” spaghetti squash noodles, but if you like yours softer, increase the cooking time by 3-5 minutes.
  2. Duck fat is one of my favorite fats. If you have another favorite fat, feel free to substitute.
  3. You can also use this recipe to simply cook the squash and top with other favorite sauces. Instead of the duck fat apple juice glaze, try pesto or no-tomato pasta sauce. Add some protein to make it a meal. Lastly, there are some creative recipes that use cooked spaghetti squash as a base, like this spaghetti squash hash with chicken, bacon and kale.
  4. And if you want to cook another type of winter squash in the Instant Pot, it works the same way. You might just need to increase or decrease the cooking time 5 or 10 minutes, depending on the size and type of squash. Have fun experimenting!
  5. Looking for more AIP Instant Pot recipes? Check out The Paleo AIP Instant Pot Cookbook.
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Side Dishes
  • Method: Instant Pot

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21 comments on “Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash with Duck Fat Apple Juice Glaze (Paleo, AIP, GAPS, Wahls, Whole30)”

  1. I used the oven method. It is an absolute game changer for me! I’ve always hated the chore of opening up and scraping the raw squash. This is a dream compared to that. I’m going to try it with sugar pumpkin, acorn squash and maybe others. Thank you!!!

  2. Logan Kelly Troxell

    Do you drain off any remaining water after cooking the squash initially before adding the apple juice?

  3. Got my instant pot a week ago and almost sent it back but was encouraged to give it a go n made chef AJ red lentil chili. Came out delish. Am making spaagetti squash as I type. How about sweet potato? Recipe I found wants it wrapped in foil. Any suggestions?

  4. Hello! Have you ever used a squash that is above the max line? (So a little on the larger side?) The lid closes fine… but it’s definitely over the max line… thoughts? If I remove the rack it’s closer to fitting… but maybe not a good idea?

    1. I’ve done that. I think it’s fine. You would never want liquid to be above the max line, but there’s plenty of air space around the squash to safely contain the pressure, in my opinion.

  5. Hi Eileen,
    Just double checking…the squash does NOT have to be pricked prior with the IP like with baking?

    1. I had the same question. I know very little about pressure cookers. Is this because the pressure inside the pot presses in on the squash, preventing it from exploding?

      1. That’s as good a guess as any, Robyn. I’m not a pressure cooker engineer, so I can’t give you a scientific explanation.

  6. GREAT recipe!! I have an Instant Pot as well and am always looking for recipes. PLEASE keep them coming! Do you think you could do a whole Kabocha squash in the Instant Pot?

    1. Hi Jo. It’s unique to the Instant Pot, but I bet you could adapt it to your pressure cooker. It just might take some experimenting on your part. My understanding is that some pressure cookers work a little faster than the Instant Pot, so you might cut the time down to 15 minutes and then pierce the squash with a fork, to see if it’s done. Then, you might need to make the sauce on the stove if your pressure cooker doesn’t have a saute function.

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