Bloody Spaghetti with Mozzarella Eyeballs
A spooky and delicious pasta dish perfect for Halloween or any fun occasion. This recipe is fast, easy, and features playful mozzarella “eyeballs” for a festive touch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 people
Ingredients
Scale
Spaghetti
- 12 oz Spaghetti noodles
Sauce
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 small Onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 15 oz Tomatoes (canned, whole or diced)
- 3 tbsp Tomato paste
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Basil (dried)
- 1 tsp Oregano (dried)
- 0.5 tsp Red chili flakes
- 0.25 tsp Black pepper (freshly ground preferred)
- 0.5 tsp Salt
Mozzarella Eyeballs
- 12 Black olives (pitted and halved)
- 12 small Mozzarella balls (fresh mozzarella pearls work well)
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Stir in canned tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, red chili flakes, black pepper, and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
- Add drained spaghetti to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time if the sauce is too thick.
- Create the mozzarella eyeballs by gently pressing half of a black olive into the center of each mozzarella ball.
- Serve the spaghetti in bowls and top with the mozzarella eyeballs.
Notes
This recipe is easily adaptable. You can use marinara sauce as a base, add red wine for depth, or substitute olives for other “pupil” options. Adding extra vegetables like mushrooms or bell peppers is also recommended. For a spicier kick, increase the red chili flakes.