Spooky Halloween Pasta Salad
This playful pasta salad combines short fusilli or penne with colorful vegetables, mozzarella balls, and a tangy balsamic lemon dressing. The dish features a vibrant, slightly spooky appearance with fun ingredients like black olives and mozzarella as eyeballs, finished with a chill that melds flavors and enhances its visual appeal. Perfect for surprising guests or adding a whimsical touch to weeknight dinners.
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Calories: 320kcal
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 8 oz short pasta (fusilli or penne) uncooked
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup black olives sliced
- 1 cup yellow bell peppers chopped into spooky shapes or slices
- 1 cup mozzarella balls small, as eyeballs or ghosts
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar good quality
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes, until it just starts to soften and has a slight bite.
- Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water immediately to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl.
- Chop the cherry tomatoes in half, slice the black olives, and prepare the yellow bell peppers into spooky shapes or thin slices for added visual fun.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt to create a bright, tangy dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the cooled pasta and toss gently until the noodles are evenly coated with the tangy mixture.
- Add the chopped vegetables, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and yellow bell peppers to the pasta. Toss gently to combine and distribute the spooky ingredients evenly.
- Gently fold in the mozzarella balls, placing them sporadically to resemble eyeballs or floating ghosts for a spooky effect.
- Transfer the pasta salad to the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and the dish to become delightfully cool and refreshing.
- Before serving, give the salad a gentle toss to redistribute the dressing and ensure every spooky element looks fresh and vibrant.
- Serve the pasta salad in a large bowl, garnished with extra mozzarella balls if desired, and enjoy this fun, festive, and spooky dish!
Notes
For extra spooky effect, tint some of the dressing with food coloring or add shredded purple cabbage for more color. Make sure to toss the salad just before serving if adding watery vegetables to keep it crisp.
Nutrition
Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 400mg | Potassium: 250mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 2mg