Lifestyle / Entertaining / Food & Drink

This Spooky Black Salad Is Perfect for Halloween

A tasty way to balance out all that candy.

Rebecca Deczynski

Updated Oct 12, 2018 5:24 PM

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

You stocked up on those bags of candy with the intention of putting them out for trick-or-treaters, though let’s be honest: No one can resist their inner kid when Halloween rolls around. But when those extra handfuls of candy corn or bite-size 3 Musketeers or mini Hershey’s bars start to make you feel a bit sluggish, it’s necessary to do the adult thing. And by that we mean eating some vegetables.

Luckily, there’s a way to stay in the spooky spirit while also staying energized enough to tackle that scary movie marathon. Just follow chef Camille Becerra’s lead and make this all-black, sea vegetable–based, deliciously creepy salad.

Two types of seaweed (chewy hijiki and crispy nori) give a base of escarole a decidedly macabre-looking twist, while a sprinkle of spirulina powder and black sesame seeds offer a satisfying blend of textures. If you want to make it more filling, feel free to add in some black rice or red quinoa for extra bulk—just don’t forget a honey-miso dressing to pull it all together with just a touch of sweetness.

Consider this a healthy Halloween dinner that you might just turn to again after October 31, when you’ve got a craving for major umami flavors. The possibilities for the nori, especially, are endless. “Nori likes to be paired with subtle, delicate ingredients. Think: mushrooms, rice and other grains, fish, avocado, and nuts,” says Becerra. “You can also buzz it in a spice grinder and make it into a powder to dust on finished dishes.”

In the meantime, though, serve it on black plates to really up the ante on the sinister vibe, then treat yourself to a little more candy for dessert. It’s all about balance, right?