Creepy Crawly Pasta Salad (Print)

Vibrant pasta salad with black pasta, colorful vegetables, and playful olive spiders for festive occasions.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz black squid ink pasta (spaghetti or linguine)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/2 cup black olives, whole and pitted
06 - 1/2 cup green olives, whole and pitted
07 - 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
08 - 1/2 red onion, finely chopped

→ Dressing

09 - 4 tbsp olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
11 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tsp honey (optional)
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Veggie Spiders Decoration

14 - 12 large black olives
15 - 24 small black olives
16 - 12 small mozzarella balls (optional)
17 - 2 tbsp chives (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Cook black squid ink pasta in boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to cool. Set aside.
02 - Combine cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, cucumber, and red onion in a large mixing bowl.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey if using, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - Toss cooled pasta with the vegetable mixture and dressing until all components are evenly coated.
05 - Slice small black olives lengthwise to form thin legs. Attach 6-8 olive legs to each large black olive to construct spider shapes, using toothpicks or gently pressing into the pasta if desired. Use mozzarella balls and chives for spider eyes if including.
06 - Arrange assembled veggie spiders over the surface of the pasta salad. Add mozzarella balls as “eggs” or garnish with additional olives for visual effect.
07 - Cover and refrigerate the assembled salad for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow flavors to develop and blend.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Easy to assemble and ready in under forty minutes
  • Turns simple pantry items into a festive centerpiece
  • Vegetarian friendly and adaptable for different diets
  • Kids love helping decorate and hunt for spiders
  • Vivid veggies and zesty dressing balance the richness of black pasta
02 -
  • A fun way to get kids excited about vegetables
  • High fiber recipe with lots of nutrient-dense veggies
  • Adapts easily for vegans or gluten-free guests
  • Freezes poorly due to high water content in veggies
03 -
  • Dry the veggies after washing so salad stays crisp
  • If you want vibrant color blanch veggies quickly and shock in ice water
  • Assembling spiders is a great job for kids or guests. Let them decorate their own plate
  • Chill the salad before serving to bring out flavors and set decorations

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