Spaghetti Squash Mexicana with Tropical Avocado Salsa Fresca

Source: Danny from our produce department prepared this dish during an in-store tasting using local squash.  It was delicious!  (Source: www.epicurious.com)

Ingredients

1 spaghetti squash (3 lb range)

Tropical salsa fresca:
1 cup chopped tomato (1/2 inch chunks)
1 cup chopped pineapple, mango, or papaya (1/2 inch chunks)
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1/4 cup lightly packed chopped fresh cilantro
Juice of 1 lime

Bean Mixture:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium size yellow onion, cut into small dice
2 jalepenos, seeded and chopped small
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed
1 1/2 teaspoon chile powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup red cooking wine
1 cup fresh or frozen corn
1-15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tsp hot sauce to taste

Preparation

First, Bake the squash.Preheat oven to 375. Cut squash in half. Scoop out seeds. Place face down on baking sheet with 1 inch of water. Bake for 45 minutes. Flip it over to face up and cook until it is easily to pierce with fork. If it is done you can turn off the oven but leave it in to keep it warm.

Prepare salsa by mixing all the ingredients in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Prepare bean mixture by heating a large, heavy bottom skillet over medium-high heat and saute onions and jalepenos in oil for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and coriander seeds and saute for 2 more minutes. Add remaining spices, salt, wine and raise the heat to a boil for 2 minutes, stirring often.

Lower heat and add the corn, black beans and hot sauce. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until the corn is heated through and the wine has reduced.

If the squash is not done by this point, cover the bean mixture. The bean mixture should be hot when served. When the squash is ready and cool enough to handle, shred and scoop out the flesh with a spoon, add to the bean mixture and toss with tongs to separate the strings and mix.

Divide among individual plates and top with salsa fresca. Serve immediately.