Have a fun family Halloween night with this Halloween themed recipe! Making this recipe is super easy and kids loved seeing a monster face on their plate.
With black olives for the eyes and yummy green pasta, this dinner is bound to be a hit!
Here's the scoop on how to create this Halloween Recipe: Frankenstein Pasta. Get ready to make the best spooky masterpiece, step by step.
What is Frankenstein Pasta?
Frankenstein pasta is a delicious dinner that the whole family will enjoy. It is made with cavatappi noodles, a green pesto sauce, and fun decorations to make a spooky face!
Why make Frankenstein Pasta for Halloween?
This pasta is great for Halloween and the Fall season not only because of the Frankenstein character but also because of the simple ingredient list and quick preparation.
It is a perfect Halloween dinner to whip up before a night of trick-or-treating!
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- 12 ounces green spinach pasta (cavatappi) or any green pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Black olives (for Frankenstein's "hair")
- Mozzarella cheese slices (for Frankenstein's "face")
For the Pesto Sauce:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup pine nuts
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Green food coloring (optional)
Instructions
Here are the easy step-by-step instructions to make Frankenstein Pesto Pasta for Halloween.
It is sweet and simple and should take around 30 minutes! Enjoy!
Cooking
Make Pesto:
- In a food processor, combine the fresh basil leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil until the mixture becomes a smooth pesto sauce.
- Optional: Add a few drops of green food coloring to the pesto sauce to achieve a vibrant green color. Blend again to evenly distribute the color. Set the pesto sauce aside.
For the Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the green spinach cavatappi pasta in boiling water.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until it's al dente.
- Drain and add a pinch of salt to the pasta
Serving
Assemble the Frankenstein Pesto Pasta:
- Add the pesto sauce to the pasta and mix until combined.
- Place the pasta onto a platter in a square shape.
- Cut two slices of mozzarella cheese and place them on top of the pasta to form the eyes.
- Use olives to create pupils by placing one in the center of each mozzarella slice.
- Above the pasta, scatter a few more black olives to make the hair as well as a mouth and nose for Frankenstein.
- Serve your Halloween Frankenstein Pesto Pasta Recipe immediately while it's hot.
- Enjoy your spooky and delicious Halloween meal!
Accompaniment side dishes
Although this dinner doesn't need a side dish, one that compliments this perfect dinner well is a side Caprese salad. It pairs well with the mozzarella and pesto flavor.
Ingredients for salad:
- 2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced into rounds
- 1 ball of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into rounds
- 1 cucumber to make the green match (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Balsamic glaze or balsamic reduction
- Salt and pepper to taste
Tips and Variations for the Pasta Recipe
This pasta is great as is, but if you are looking for a few variations or tips to make the pasta dish stand out, here are a few we thought of.
Adding extra toppings
You can add an extra decoration to this pasta by adding red and green bell peppers.
Use the green peppers as "bolts" on the side of Frankenstein's face. Use the red peppers are bloody marks or another way to make the mouth.
Alternative ways to shape the pasta
Traditionally the Frankenstein head is shaped as a square, but it is simple to switch it to anything you want. I recommend trying a simple circle or oval for the head shape.
Similar to the square, you can also make a rectangle shape. These alternations for small, but you can really customize your dinner to fit any plate!
Using different types of pasta
For this recipe we used cavatappi. Although this recipe is easily made with any other type of pasta.
Don't be afraid to experiment with other pasta, like fettuccini, whole wheat pasta, and macaroni. or even an orzo!
Final Thoughts
I loved making this dish for Halloween! Placing the olives on top to create a creepy monster face was great.
The Frankenstein Pasta Recipe is great for your next Halloween party or Autumn night in.
Make this recipe for Halloween and create the fun Frankenstein face with any of the ingredients above, or create your own masterpiece and share it with us here!
Halloween Recipe: Frankenstein Pasta
Frankenstein pasta is a delicious dinner that the whole family will enjoy. It is made with cavatappi noodles, a green pesto sauce, and fun decorations to make a spooky face!
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- 12 ounces green spinach pasta (cavatappi) or any green pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Black olives (for Frankenstein's "hair")
- Mozzarella cheese slices (for Frankenstein's "face")
For the pesto:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup pine nuts
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Green food coloring (optional)
Instructions
Make the Pesto
- In a food processor, combine the fresh basil leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil until the mixture becomes a smooth pesto sauce.
- Optional: Add a few drops of green food coloring to the pesto sauce to achieve a vibrant green color. Blend again to evenly distribute the color. Set the pesto sauce aside.
Make the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the green spinach cavatappi pasta in boiling water.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until it's al dente.
- Drain and add a pinch of salt to the pasta
Serving
- Add the pesto sauce to the pasta and mix until combined.
- Place the pasta onto a platter in a square shape.
- Cut two slices of mozzarella cheese and place them on top of the pasta to form the eyes.
- Use olives to create pupils by placing one in the center of each mozzarella slice.
- Above the pasta, scatter a few more black olives to make the hair as well as a mouth and nose for Frankenstein.
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