Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, chopped basil, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Shape the mixture into 12 small meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- While the meatballs bake, heat the marinara sauce in a skillet over medium heat, letting it simmer gently to develop flavor.
- Once cooked, add the meatballs to the sauce and gently stir to coat them, allowing them to soak up some of the sauce’s rich aroma.
- Meanwhile, prepare the eyeball 'pupils' by slicing black olives into small rounds or halves.
- Place the cooked pasta onto serving plates, then spoon generous amounts of sauce and meatballs over the top.
- Top each meatball with a mozzarella ball, pressing it lightly into the meat to resemble an eyeball.
- Use black olive slices to create a tiny 'pupil' in the center of each mozzarella ball, giving the eyeball effect.
- Finish by drizzling a little olive oil over the dish for shine, and garnish with fresh basil if desired.
- Serve immediately while the pasta is still warm and the cheese is melty for a spooky yet delicious Halloween treat.
Notes
For best presentation, assemble the eyeballs just before serving. Feel free to customize the size of meatballs and olives to your preference for more exaggerated or subtle creepy effects.