Description
A spooky and delicious Halloween dinner featuring meatballs that resemble eyeballs served over black spaghetti with a flavorful tomato sauce.
Ingredients
Eyeball Meatballs
- 1 lb Ground Beef or Turkey (Mix half of each for flavor.)
- 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
- 1 large Egg (To bind the mixture.)
- 4 oz Mozzarella Cheese, cubed (Stuff inside the meatballs.)
- 1 can Black Ripe Olives, sliced (Use as pupils for the eyeballs.)
Black Spaghetti
- 8 oz Squid Ink Pasta (Can use regular pasta with black food coloring.)
Tomato Sauce
- 2 cans Canned Crushed Tomatoes (Use quality for best flavor.)
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil (For sautéing.)
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced (Sauté for flavor.)
- 1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 tsp Sugar (To balance the acidity of the tomatoes.)
- to taste Salt and Pepper
- 1 pinch Chili Flakes (Optional for some heat.)
- a few leaves Fresh Basil, torn (Add right before serving.)
Instructions
Preparing the Eyeball Meatballs
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a bowl, combine ground beef or turkey with breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and the egg. Mix well.
- Shape the mixture into meatballs and stuff each meatball with a cube of mozzarella.
- Top each meatball with a slice of black olive to resemble an eyeball.
- Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes until cooked through.
Cooking the Black Spaghetti
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil.
- Add the squid ink pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions.
- Drain the pasta and toss quickly with olive oil to prevent sticking.
Making the Tomato Sauce
- In a saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
- Add canned crushed tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper to the pan.
- Let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes, adding chili flakes and fresh basil right before serving.
Plating and Serving
- Twirl the black spaghetti onto each plate and spoon the tomato sauce generously on top.
- Place the mozzarella eyeball meatballs in the center of each portion.
- For presentation, drizzle a bit of sauce on top of the meatballs and add parsley or grated parmesan for garnish.
Notes
Feel free to modify ingredients based on dietary preferences. You can use plant-based ground meat for a vegetarian option. Don’t stress; a little mess adds to the haunted vibe of the meal.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: Halloween, Italian