Description
A spooky and fun Halloween-themed pasta dish featuring spaghetti coated in a rich tomato sauce resembling blood, topped with mozzarella balls designed to look like eyeballs.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (optional, for a meatier sauce)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 1-inch balls
- Black olives, pitted and sliced (for pupils)
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. If using ground beef, add it and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. For a richer flavor, simmer longer.
- While the sauce simmers, prepare the mozzarella eyeballs. Place a slice of black olive on each mozzarella ball to create a pupil. You can use a small dab of sauce or cream cheese to help it stick if needed.
- Add the drained spaghetti to the pot with the sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Serve the spaghetti immediately, topping each portion with a few mozzarella eyeballs.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ground beef.
- You can add other vegetables to the sauce like bell peppers or mushrooms.
- Ensure mozzarella balls are not too large to be easily consumed.
- The ‘blood’ effect is enhanced by the rich red color of the crushed tomatoes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American