(Photo by Rieko Suzuki)

Well, actually, it’s gnocchi and tomato sauce. To make the eyeballs in this spooky serving that kids and grownups alike can enjoy, sliced black olives are the key. For the tomato sauce, I used ham, but bacon or tuna—or chickpeas for vegetarians—will suffice. Happy Halloween!

Servings: 2-3

Ingredients

Gnocchi

• 300g peeled potatoes
• 150g flour
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tsp parmesan cheese powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 16-20 sliced black olives

Sauce

• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 small onion, chopped
• ½-1 cup sliced ham
• 1 tsp chopped garlic
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried basil
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Chop, cook, and mash potatoes. Add flour, egg yolk, cheese, a pinch of salt, and then knead. Plastic-wrap it and let rest in the fridge for 30 min.
2. Cook sauce. In pot, heat olive oil. Fry onion, garlic, and ham until onion becomes translucent. Then add diced tomato and dried basil. Adjust taste to your liking with salt and pepper.
3. Bring out gnocchi dough from fridge and place on chopping board, dusted with flour. Take small, even amounts and form round pieces. Push in sliced olives in the center.
4. Boil water in big pot. Cook gnocchi for 7-8 min. Let boil for 2 min after they start floating.
5. Drain gnocchi and put on plate. Pour sauce when serving.