Herb-Marinated Veggie & Chickpea Salad Recipe
This Herb-Marinated Veggie & Chickpea Salad features hard-boiled eggs transformed into spooky Halloween-themed deviled eggs with vibrant colors and creative decorations, making it both a fun and delicious appetizer.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 24 deviled egg halves 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Eggs
- 12 large eggs – Fresh eggs work best for clean peeling (substitute: duck eggs for larger portions)
Filling Base
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise – Creates the creamy base (substitute: Greek yogurt for lighter option)
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard – Adds tangy flavor (substitute: Dijon for sharper taste)
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar – Enhances flavor balance
- Salt and pepper to taste – Essential seasoning
Coloring and Decorations
- Black food coloring – Creates spooky darkness
- Orange food coloring – For Halloween orange hues
- Black olives – Perfect for creating “spider” bodies
- Chives or green onions – Makes excellent “spider legs”
- Paprika – Adds eerie red coloring
- Cream cheese – For white “ghost” decorations
Instructions
- Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs: Place the eggs in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by one inch. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then immediately remove from heat and cover. Let stand for 12 minutes to cook the yolks perfectly without developing green rings.
- Ice Bath Cooling: Transfer the eggs immediately to an ice water bath to halt the cooking process. This step ensures easier peeling and prevents overcooking. Let the eggs cool completely for about 10 minutes.
- Careful Peeling: Gently crack and peel the eggs under cool running water, starting at the larger end where the air pocket is located. Pat the peeled eggs dry with paper towels to prepare them for the next step.
- Creating the Base: Slice the eggs in half lengthwise using a sharp knife. Carefully remove the yolks and place them in a mixing bowl. Arrange the egg white halves on your serving platter; these will serve as stable bases for your decorated eggs.
- Mixing the Filling: Mash the egg yolks with mayonnaise, mustard, white vinegar, salt, and pepper until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Divide the yolk mixture into separate bowls to prepare different colored variations for visual effect.
- Adding Spooky Colors: Add black food coloring to one portion of the yolk mixture to create a dark “dirt” or “coal” appearance. Stir orange food coloring into another portion to generate a classic Halloween orange hue. Leave one portion natural yellow for contrast and variety.
- Assembly and Decoration: Fill the egg white halves with the differently colored yolk mixtures using a spoon or piping bag. For “spider” eggs, add halved black olives as the spider bodies and thinly sliced chives or green onions as legs. Create “eyeball” eggs by adding small dots of cream cheese with paprika centers for a creepy effect.
Notes
- For easier peeling, ensure eggs are cooled completely in the ice bath before peeling.
- Use a piping bag for neater filling application and more precise decoration.
- Substitute Greek yogurt for mayonnaise to reduce fat content for a lighter version.
- Decorations can be customized with other veggies or herbs for different themes.
- The yolk mixtures can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Keywords: hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs, Halloween appetizers, colorful eggs, spooky party food, egg salad, black olives, cream cheese decoration
