Halloween is approaching on October 31. The traditional colors for this holiday are black and orange. Make your Halloween feast stand out by serving foods in these colors. (I’ll do orange foods next. You may also enjoy my previous post on red, white, and blue foods.) For best results, try to find foods that are naturally black, rather than resorting to food coloring. You can find special Halloween recipes online at All Recipes, Cooks Recipes, or Halloween Kitchen.
Mmm ... blackberries!
Black Foods
I was surprised by how many foods are naturally black. Several fruits and vegetables have very dark colors that are almost black. Some spices are black. Of course, some cooking processes, such as grilling, can give foods a blackened coat of charcoal. Here is a list of healthy black foods.
‘Arkansas Black’ apples have skin so dark red that it looks almost black. They are crisp, dense, and very flavorful. Although they are recommended for cooking, I like them for fresh eating too! You could make a pie with them, or put them in a fruit bowl, but they would also be perfect for the old game of “bobbing for apples.” Put them in a white tub for kids (to make them easier to see) or in a dark tub for adults (to make the game harder).
Black beans have black skins and brown, gray, or black flesh. They are very high in fiber, protein, and certain vitamins. Remember, beans and rice together make a “complete” protein that can take the place of meat. Consider serving black beans with wild rice or orange-yellow saffron rice. They are also good for making a black bean dip, chili, or many other recipes.
Black bread is usually pumpernickel, with a dark brown to black crust. Sometimes the inside is the same color, other times a little lighter. For best visual impact, spread slices of black bread with a thin layer of white butter and then top with a black (blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry) or orange (peach, apricot, orange marmalade) preserve.
Black plums have deep purple to black skin. Their flesh may be white or red. Serve these whole as part of a fruit bowl for fresh eating, or cut them into slices for use in a fruit salad.
Blackberries are deep purple to black when fresh. Once frozen or cooked, however, they turn a rather brighter shade of purple. Use fresh blackberries to top cheesecake or ice cream. Alternatively, serve them in a bowl plain, or with cream or whipped cream.
Brewed beverages such as coffee and black tea are dark brown to black. You can add sugar or lemon without changing the flavor, but cream will turn them beige. Organic, fair-trade brands cost a little more but are better for the planet and for people. Reading tea leaves is a fun Halloween activity.
Dark chocolate ranges from deep brown to very nearly black. Since the color comes from the cocoa content, the darker shades usually taste more intense, so buy the blackest chocolate you can afford. Dried apricot or mango slices dipped in dark chocolate make a delicious black-and-orange treat! Dark chocolate sauce or syrup may also be drizzled over desserts.
Eggplant comes in many colors, including a deep purple that is almost black. To show off the color, eggplants may be sliced lengthwise, stuffed, and baked.
Grilled foods develop a thin black coat of charcoal as they cook. You can grill meats, many vegetables, and even some fruits. If you grill orange peppers, you will have black-and-orange peppers.
Jello offers some standard flavors that are near black, such as black cherry (dark red) and grape (dark purple). Sometimes in October they release a “black” Jello that is usually a very dark bluish-purple. Any dark Jello flavor can be tinted closer to black by adding a little black food coloring.
Licorice is the classic black candy. It is also a spice that you can use in other foods. Consider making black cookies with licorice flavoring.
Spices such as black sesame seeds, juniper berries, peppercorns, poppy seeds, etc. may be black. These are usually used sparingly. However, black pepper may be used to coat meats for a “blackened” effect.
Wild rice comes in various colors, including dark brown and black. It can stand alone or blend with other foods. Any rice goes well with beans, forming a complete protein.
Zucchini is a type of squash, some of whose varieties are very dark green to almost black. To show off the color, zucchini may be sliced lengthwise (if cylindrical) or cored (if spherical) and stuffed.
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