Witch Hat Pasta With Squid Ink And Pumpkin Recipe

Pasta ... in the shape of a witch hat!? And it's easier to make than you think! Recipe developer Leah Maroney makes a simple pasta dough that is dyed a devious black courtesy of squid ink (which you can find easily on Amazon). The squid ink provides a nice briney flavor to the pasta and it goes perfectly with the luscious pumpkin vodka sauce. The sauce has a gorgeous orange color to accentuate the Halloween aesthetic. You can use canned pumpkin or fresh pumpkin puree; butternut squash also works very well. 

The black pasta is rolled out into thin sheets, cut into rounds, and then folded into the little hats. It's a fairly simple pasta shape to make despite looking super impressive. Maroney says, "If you've used a pasta roller before, you can make this pasta."

Serve the pasta alongside your favorite protein and pair it with a nice fall salad for a complete meal. The recipe makes a generous amount of pasta and sauce and the pasta freezes well once it has been dried. This is a fun pasta to serve to kids and adults alike! 

This recipe starts with assembling the pasta dough. Semolina flour, eggs, salt, and squid ink are combined and kneaded until an elastic dough forms. Then it's time to prepare the sauce. Onions and garlic are cooked in olive oil. Tomato paste and vodka are added. Then, chicken broth, pumpkin puree, and heavy cream are incorporated to create a creamy sauce. An immersion blender is used to bring the sauce to the next level. 

The little hats are formed by rolling out the pasta dough into thin sheets. Then the sheets are cut into rounds. A piping tip is used to form the cone of the hat. Then, the edges are flipped up to create the brim. Make sure to dry the pasta on a semolina-dusted baking sheet. This will help it hold its shape. The pasta is then cooked in salted water and added to the sauce. Top with a chiffonade of sage and you're ready to dig in!

Pour the flour onto a flat surface. Make a well in the pile of flour.

Crack the eggs into the well along with the salt and squid ink. Using a fork, slowly combine the eggs with the flour.

Knead the dough for 10 minutes or until an elastic ball forms. Add more flour if needed. 

Section the dough into four equal pieces.

With a pasta roller roll on the largest setting, roll out one of the pieces of dough.

Fold the dough into thirds and roll out again on the largest setting.

Continue the process, but changing to a smaller setting each time. Stop rolling at the penultimate setting on your pasta machine.

Cut rounds out of the pasta sheet using a biscuit cutter.

Using a piping tip, roll the ends over the tip to create the cone of the hat.

Flip the end of the cone up to create the brim of the hat. Then remove the piping tip.

Set the completed pasta shapes onto a semolina dusted baking sheet. Allow to dry for at least an hour. This will help the pasta hold its shape.

Slice the onion. 

Finely dice the garlic.

Add the olive oil, onion, and the garlic to the pan and cook on low heat until the onions are softened.

Add the tomato paste into the pan and saute until the paste is heated through.

Pour the vodka into the pan, stirring to break up the bits from the bottom of the pan.

Add in the pumpkin puree, heavy cream, and chicken broth. Whisk until combined.

Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce.

Heat until just boiling and turn down to low. Add salt and pepper and whisk in the parmesan cheese if adding.

Carefully place the pasta hats in the boiling water and boil for 2-3 minutes or until al dente.

Carefully remove the pasta with a slotted spoon.

Toss the pasta in the sauce.

Serve the pasta with a chiffonade of sage. 

You can most definitely replace the squid ink in this pasta dish. The best replacement for squid ink is black food coloring. This is a great option for those allergic to shellfish (believe it or not, squid is a shellfish) or for vegetarians. If you're looking to serve the pasta with different flavored sauces, you may also want to omit the squid ink to avoid clashing flavors. 

If you're omitting the squid ink, add a few drops of gel food coloring to the pasta dough as you would the squid ink. Add more food coloring as needed. If you are using a high-quality gel food coloring, you shouldn't need to use very much. Just be careful, as this method can dye your hands black temporarily. You can use food-grade gloves to prevent staining. Once the pasta is dry it won't cause staining. 

Both the witch hat pasta and the pumpkin vodka sauce store well. You can freeze the witch hat pasta before it is cooked. Just make sure you dry the pasta completely. Then carefully add the little hats to a large plastic storage bag and place it in the freezer. They can be frozen for up to 6 months. The dried pasta can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for 2 months. The vodka sauce stores very well too. It can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and can be frozen for up to 6 months. 

This recipe takes a long time to make and is a big labor of love, but all of the components can be made well in advance. So when you're ready to serve it can come together quickly.