The Name Says It All

• Spaghetti squash is the a spaghetti noodle alternative that comes close to providing long strands that are enjoyable to eat. The larger the squash, the thicker the strands and the more pronounced squash flavor you'll receive. Once you bake, steam or microwave the squash, remove the strands by scraping them out of the inedible shell with a fork. Use the strands in the same way that you would use spaghetti noodles, topping them with sauce and Parmesan cheese.

Stick With the Squashes

• While spaghetti squash is the only variety that separates into strands, other winter squashes pair well with tomato sauce and Parmesan. Serve thick slices or chunks of acorn, butternut, delicata or even sweet, miniature pumpkin squashes in the same manner as you would spaghetti. Roasting a squash gives you a delicious browned and caramelized surface but takes at least 45 minutes in the oven. Steaming and microwaving are quicker, about 15 minutes in the microwave or 30 minutes in a steamer, but you won't have a crusty exterior.

Classic Italian and American Favorite

• Cooked until it is meltingly soft and smothered with cheese and tomato sauce, eggplant provides a creamy and rich alternative to spaghetti, with the same Italian feel. If you use a fresh eggplant, you don't need to salt it first; save more time and mess by pan-frying the eggplant as-is instead of breading it. Layer the dish as you would lasagna, alternating the cheese, tomato sauce and eggplant, and bake it in a preheated 450-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 15 minutes until it's bubbles.

Keep an Open Mind

• A number of vegetables taste delicious when you roast them, acquiring a crusty exterior and soft interior. Cauliflower, fennel and celery root, also called celeriac, are just a few of the vegetables that you can slice or cut into chunks, roast and then top with your favorite spaghetti noodle topping. These vegetables pair well with tomato sauce, with a rich cheese sauce or a simple Italian topping of olive oil, garlic and toasted bread crumbs.