Halloween pasta
Bring a little fright to your dinner table with this Halloween pasta. Jet-black spaghetti, tangled in a rich tomato sauce, sets the stage for a parade of eerie mozzarella and olive eyeballs staring up from your plate. This recipe sets the mood perfectly for a Halloween party or a horror film night.
Ingredients
Tomato sauce
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1
Yellow onion
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1
Garlic clove
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2 tbsp
Butter
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1 can
Crushed tomatoes
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½ tsp
Salt
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1
Lemon, finely grated zest
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1 tbsp
Capers, chopped
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50 g
Butter
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½ tbsp
Sugar
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Pasta
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300 g
Black spaghetti
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125 g
Mini mozzarella
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10
Black olives, pitted
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Chilli flakes
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Instructions
Tomato sauce
Pasta
Recipe tips
It’s often the small details that make the biggest impact in the kitchen, so we’re sharing the tips we rely on when cooking and creating recipes
Cook the spaghetti 1–2 minutes less than the time on the packet, so it is al dente. Before draining, save about 100 ml of the pasta water. When mixing the spaghetti with the tomato sauce, add a little of the starchy water, starting with 2–3 tablespoons, to help the sauce coat the pasta evenly and give it a smoother, silkier texture.
FAQ: Questions about Halloween pasta
Want to make the perfect Halloween pasta with mozzarella and olives? Check out our answers to the most frequently asked questions about it.
How do I make the olive “eyes” for the Halloween pasta?
To make the olive “eyes” on your Halloween pasta, drain and pat dry the mini mozzarella balls and black olives so they stick together properly. Slice the olives into thin rings, then press one onto each mozzarella ball to create the pupil. You can make a small indentation first to help them stay in place. For a nice presentation, twist portions of the pasta around a fork to create small nests. Place one eyeball on top of each pasta nest, or scatter them evenly across the pasta for a family-style serving.
Is squid ink necessary for making black spaghetti at home?
You do not need squid ink to make black spaghetti at home if you are using pre-made black spaghetti, like in this Halloween pasta recipe. The black colour in commercially available pasta usually comes from squid or cuttlefish ink. You only need additional squid ink if you make pasta from scratch and want that signature colour and subtle briny flavour.
Can I store leftover Halloween pasta?
Yes, you can store leftover Halloween pasta. Once cooled, transfer it to a shallow, airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat it until piping hot in the microwave with a splash of water or extra sauce to prevent it from drying out. It is best to add fresh mozzarella and olives after reheating.
Nutritional values
Nutritional value, per
2093 Kcal
| Fibre | - | 19.9 gram fibers |
| Protein | 11.7 | 60.4 gram |
| Fat | 41.3 | 97.7 gram |
| Carbohydrates | 47 | 242.2 gram |
Recommended information
Serving suggestion
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Delicious and eye-catching Halloween pasta
Our Halloween pasta is quite literally eye-catching, and every bite is hauntingly delicious. The deep, dramatic hue of black spaghetti sets the stage for the rich tomato sauce with lemon zest and briny capers. Perched on top, the mozzarella balls and olives mimic eyeballs and add a playful menace, turning an ordinary pasta dish into a worthy Halloween dinner spread.
Looking for more hearty meals and autumn suppers? There is plenty to explore beyond this recipe. Try the monster burger with juicy patties and cheese, a steaming bowl of Halloween soup, or Hasselback pumpkin with tasty toppings.
Tender black spaghetti in a rich tomato sauce
Black spaghetti twirled in a velvety, tangy tomato sauce is satisfying, and a little scary. The pasta’s fun, dramatic colour is a certain hit with the kids. The sauce balances a savoury sweetness from slow-simmered tomatoes with a subtle zesty citrus note and the briny kick of capers. Stirring butter into the sauce at the end is like a secret little spell we cast to make it extra rich.
Decorated with mozzarella and olives
No Halloween pasta would be complete without a little fright factor, which our mozzarella eyeballs deliver. Simply top mini mozzarella balls with black olive slices to create spooky pupils. For a fiery twist, sprinkle on a few chilli flakes to give them a bloodshot look.
The combo of soft, creamy mozzarella and salty black olives does not just look fun but also adds great flavour. The chilli flakes are optional, but a little heat adds a nice kick to balance the richness.
Easy Halloween-themed dinner for everyone
Halloween night on a weekday? No problem. In just 30 minutes, you can go from chopping onions to serving up a family-friendly feast that looks like it took hours to prepare. Whether you are cooking for little trick-or-treaters or adults who love a bit of kitchen theatre, this dish is a certified crowd-pleaser. Halloween is about having fun, after all, so let this Halloween pasta work its magic.
Add other creative and scary ingredients
This Halloween pasta recipe is super easy, but if you want to take it up a notch, we have a few suggestions. Use different coloured pasta instead of black. Many supermarkets sell green pasta made with basil or spinach, which looks eerily good paired with red tomato sauce and also tastes great. Pasta made from red lentils brings an orange-red colour to the plate, offering a subtler contrast. Whichever type you choose, no one will be able to resist!
Are mozzarella eyeballs not creepy enough for you? Then get creative! Plenty of ingredients can be turned into spooky pasta toppings. Try a few cooked grains of rice to look like maggots. Want to make a face on each plate? Use two mini mozzarella balls for eyes, carve a mouth from a carrot, and add fangs made from halved onion rings. You can even drape strips of mozzarella over the top to look like ghostly cobwebs, or mix in black garlic for a richer, darker sauce.
If you want to add more flavour, mix in sautéed mushrooms for an umami richness, or add roasted red peppers and juicy cherry tomatoes for a more vibrant look. You can also enjoy roasted butternut squash or courgette for a seasonal flavour.
