My friends were so nervous to try squid ink pasta! It sounds terrifying but trust me, squid ink really just gives pasta a brilliant black hue. It does not taste fishy at all, I promise! I love making squid ink pasta because it’s so dramatic looking but it’s especially satisfying in October when you want a spooky dish. I served my super simple squid ink pasta at my Dinner Noir dinner party, a gothic black tie fete where all of the food was black.
Isn’t it just gloriously creepy? Even the pot is spooky while it’s cooking.
Simple Squid Ink Pasta
Serves 6
1 lbs squid ink pasta (spaghetti di nero)
1/2 stick butter
2-3 Tbsp garlic olive oil
1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped
1 cup (at least!) Parmesan or Pecorino
5-6 strips cherrywood smoked bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup pasta water, reserved
- Cook squid ink pasta according to package directions. My favorite brand only takes 3 minutes to cook! Reserve a half cup of pasta water before draining pasta.
- Drain pasta in colander and immediately return to its pot. Throw in half a stick of butter and the reserved half cup of pasta water. Cover the pot for a minute or so to melt the butter.
- Toss with garlic olive oil, Italian parsley (save some to sprinkle on top!), an enormous amount of Parmesan or Pecorino, and crumbled bacon.
Wine pairing: I came up with this dish and the entire Dinner Noir party idea to go with Gnarly Head Authentic Black, which is oh so perfect for the Halloween season. It paired beautifully with the squid ink pasta!
Read more about Dinner Noir here.
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