Halloween Ghostly White Pasta (Print)

Creamy white sauce pasta with mozzarella ghosts and olive eyes is a festive, kid-friendly Halloween main dish.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 350 grams (12 oz) fettuccine or spaghetti

→ Velvety White Sauce

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
04 - 480 milliliters (2 cups) whole milk, warmed
05 - 50 grams (1/2 cup) grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
08 - Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)

→ Ghostly Embellishments

09 - 8 slices low-moisture mozzarella cheese
10 - 16 sliced black olives (for eyes)

→ Finishing Touches

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# Instructions:

01 - Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 120 milliliters (1/2 cup) of pasta water.
02 - Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute until lightly golden.
03 - Gradually whisk in the warmed milk, stirring continuously to achieve a smooth consistency. Simmer for 3–4 minutes until the sauce thickens.
04 - Remove from heat and incorporate Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. If the sauce is too dense, thin with reserved pasta water as needed.
05 - Toss the drained pasta with the velvety white sauce until thoroughly coated.
06 - Transfer the coated pasta to a serving platter or individual plates. Cut mozzarella into ghost shapes and arrange atop the warm pasta to partially melt.
07 - Place two black olive slices on each mozzarella ghost to form eyes. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
08 - Serve the pasta immediately.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • Ready in just 35 minutes from start to finish
  • Perfect for Halloween dinner parties or a fun family meal
  • Simple ingredients you likely already have on hand
  • Kid friendly but sophisticated enough for adults too
02 -
  • Makes fantastic leftovers for lunch the next day
  • Can be prepared up to the ghost decoration stage in advance
  • Perfect opportunity to get kids involved in the kitchen
  • Naturally vegetarian and easily adaptable
03 -
  • For the most impressive ghost shapes, chill the mozzarella slices in the freezer for 5 minutes before cutting. This firms them up just enough to create clean edges without freezing them solid.
  • When making the white sauce, warming the milk before adding it to the roux prevents temperature shock that can cause lumping.
  • Finally, taste your sauce before adding the pasta and adjust seasonings if needed. Remember that the pasta will dilute the flavor slightly, so the sauce should be a touch stronger than you think necessary.

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