Eyeball Pasta Salad
A spooky and fun Halloween pasta salad featuring black bowtie pasta, mozzarella 'eyeballs,' and festive veggies. Perfect for Halloween parties, potlucks, or a creepy dinner centerpiece!
Ingredients
- 16 oz farfalle pasta also known as bowtie pasta
- black food coloring or squid ink or activated charcoal for natural coloring
- 1 orange bell pepper cut into star shapes
- 1 cup marinated mozzarella balls ciliegine or bocconcini
- ¼ cup black olives sliced into rings for pupils
- 1 cup edamame shelled, cooked, and cooled
- ¼ cup red onion chopped
- ½ cup Italian dressing or use ranch or vinaigrette as substitute
Instructions
- Boil farfalle pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Place pasta in a bowl, cover with water, and stir in black food coloring. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Drain and rinse pasta again until evenly black.
- Cut orange bell pepper into star shapes. Chop red onion. Prepare cooked edamame.
- Arrange mozzarella balls on a plate and top each with a black olive ring to make 'eyeballs.'
- In a large bowl, combine dyed pasta, bell pepper stars, edamame, chopped onion, and any leftover olives.
- Pour in Italian dressing and toss to combine.
- Top salad with mozzarella 'eyeballs' for a spooky finish.
- Chill until ready to serve or serve immediately.
Notes
Make this salad up to a day in advance, but add the mozzarella eyeballs just before serving for best presentation. You can also swap in gluten-free pasta, different veggies, or alternate dressings to fit your taste or dietary needs. For kids' parties, toss in a few gummy worms for a creepy surprise!
Nutrition
Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 12gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 250mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 800IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg
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