Give your guests pumpkin to talk about with these side dishes for Halloween

Halloween is a great time to let your creativity run wild. If you’re planning on hosting a Halloween-themed event for a gathering of people, you want to make sure that your guests can treat themselves to a delicious spread.

Let your imagination run wild and create some chilling mains to adorn your dining table this season and don’t forget to include some equally scary side dishes to complement your mains.

Side dishes for Halloween don’t have to be complicated. Follow a few simple recipes to add to the spook factor that will set your Halloween party apart from the rest.

1. Mummy hot dogs

Roll out a store-bought sheet of pastry and cut ¼ to ½ inch-wide strips. Once this is done, cut slices of pepper jack cheese into rectangles.

Wrap the cheese around grilled hot dogs and then proceed to wrap the strips of pastry around the cheese and hot dogs like you would do a bandage.

Once wrapped, place the wrapped hot dogs on a baking tray and bake for about 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown at 190℃. Let it cool for 5 minutes before adding two dots of your preferred mustard for the eyes. 

2. Juicy bat wings

Grill your chicken wings and place them warm on paper towels.

In a separate saucepan, combine sugar, honey, cider vinegar, and drops of black food colouring. To this, add onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, pepper, cumin, oregano, and nutmeg—or a spice mix that combines these spices—and bring the mixture to a boil.

Once the liquid is syrupy, has the desired darkness, and is reduced by half, you can proceed to drizzle it over the chicken wings and toss it to coat.

3. Broccoli boo salad

A grilled feast isn’t complete without a refreshing salad. Try this broccoli salad to add a hint of freshness.

For the dressing, mix mayonnaise, sugar, your preferred spice mix, and vinegar. Cover and refrigerate the dressing for around 2 hours. 

Slice up a cucumber and use a small paring knife to cut two eyes and a mouth to create a scary face.

Add the cut cucumbers to a separate bowl along with the broccoli, oranges, onion, bacon, and raisins.

Add the dressing, and toss to coat before covering the bowl. Refrigerate it till it’s ready to be served.

4. Ghosty calzones

Roll out your bread dough into a rounded triangle shape and place it on a baking tray and lightly score a 4-inch wide rectangle in the middle.

Cut 1-inch wide strips at an angle up to the score line, leaving a triangle in the top centre of the wide end for the head of the ghost.

Layer cheese, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and green pepper in the middle of the rectangle and fold the strips alternatively till you reach the bottom. Brush the dough with egg and press slices of an olive for the eyes of the ghost.

Bake at 190℃ for 25-28 minutes.

Unique spooky side dishes for Halloween

Prepare some spooky side dishes for Halloween to wow your guests by trying these simple, Halloween-themed side dish recipes that can be whipped up in no time.

If you’re hosting a Halloween party for a ghoulish gang, make sure to try out some innovative recipes using flavoursome seasonings for a dangerously delicious feast.