When most people think about making Halloween food, they automatically think about. Pumpkins are, admittedly, an excellent ingredient to use in a lot of Halloween cooking. However, people often overlook the element of color. Black foods can effectively add a spooky feeling to a lot of dishes. Here are two black foods that will take your Halloween cooking to the next level:
Black Tahini
Black tahini is made from black sesame seeds, and it has a nutty, slightly bitter flavor that pairs especially well with sweeter foods. Here are three ways to use black tahini for spooky season:
1. In Brownies: My favorite brownie recipe has always been this one that uses tahini. The tahini and cocoa combination creates a much richer chocolate flavor. When black tahini is used, the flavor shifts towards a nuttier taste, while still preserving the richness of the chocolate. Using the same recipe, I replaced the regular tahini with black tahini and added a white chocolate matcha drizzle for a spookier effect
2. As a Smoothie Bowl Topping: Black tahini can also be used in place of nut butter to add a bit of richness to a dish. I drizzled some over a homemade ube smoothie bowl, and topped it with the brownies I made above.
3. Noodle Sauce: On the more savory side, I combined black tahini, miso paste, soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine vinegar to form a sauce. I then mixed it with brown rice noodles, and topped it with kimchi and a soft boiled egg. Black tahini pairs well with umami flavors like miso and soy sauce, which gives the dish a cohesive flavor profile.
Squid Ink
Squid ink can be used in small quantities to produce a potent black color that works with many types of food. While squid ink itself can be hard to find, there are always pre-made squid ink products that are more accessible in grocery stores. Here are two ways to use squid ink:
1. Squid Ink Pasta: I was able to find fresh squid ink pasta at Whole Foods, but dry squid ink pasta is sold in novelty grocery stores like Eataly or online. Drawing inspiration from this recipe, I attempted to recreate the mushroom skulls to make the dish feel more spooky, but sadly the detail got lost during the cooking process. However, the black pasta still makes it feel somewhat festive.
2. Squid Ink Burger Bun: Burger King has toyed with the idea of a black burger bun in the past, and many other burger places are starting to catch on. Below is a squid ink burger from Ricewood in Ann Arbor, MI. However, it is possible to make your own squid ink buns if you are feeling particularly adventurous