Green Gruel with Eyeballs

Vegetarian
Gluten Free
Health score
21%
Green Gruel with Eyeballs
45 min.
6
365kcal

Suggestions

Looking for a spooky yet delicious vegetarian and gluten-free main course for lunch or dinner this Halloween? Look no further than the eerie Green Gruel with Eyeballs! This unique recipe, adapted from Matthew Mead's Monster Book of Halloween, serves six and takes only 45 minutes to prepare. With a caloric content of 365 kcal per serving, it's a tasty and not-so-scary treat for your Halloween feast.

The star of this show-stopping dish is the vibrant green broccoli, which is cooked to tender perfection and then blended into a smooth, creamy purée. This base is enriched with a blend of vegetable or chicken broth, minced garlic, black pepper, and freshly grated nutmeg, creating a flavor profile that's both comforting and intriguing. The addition of sharp cheddar cheese takes the dish to a whole new level of indulgence, melting into the purée and creating a rich, savory sauce.

To add a touch of Halloween horror, hard-cooked eggs are transformed into eyeballs with the help of pitted black olives, making for a frightfully fun presentation. The broccoli florets, briefly boiled and then rinsed under cold water, retain their vibrant green color and add a delightful texture to the gruel. A final drizzle of unsalted butter over the warm purée completes this monstrously good dish.

Whether you're hosting a Halloween party or simply looking to add a bit of fun to your holiday meal, the Green Gruel with Eyeballs is sure to be a hit. It's a creative, vegetarian-friendly main course that combines the best of comfort food with a touch of Halloween flair. So why not give it a try and impress your guests with your culinary creativity this season?

Ingredients

  •  olives black pitted
  • 2.5 pounds broccoli chopped
  • cup chicken broth 
  •  garlic clove minced
  • 0.1 teaspoon pepper black
  •  hardboiled eggs peeled
  • pinch nutmeg freshly grated
  • 0.3 teaspoon salt 
  •  shallots finely chopped
  • cups sharp cheddar cheese grated
  • tablespoons butter unsalted

Equipment

  • bowl
  • frying pan
  • pot
  • blender

Directions

  1. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the chopped broccoli stems, shallots, garlic, salt, pepper, and nutmeg; cook, stirring, until the shallots are tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Add the broth, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, until the broccoli stalks are tenderand the liquid almost evaporated.
  4. Remove from the heat, add the cheese, and toss to combine. Working in batches, transfer to a blender and purée until smooth.
  5. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
  6. Add the florets and cook for 3 minutes.
  7. Drain and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking.
  8. Cut a notch in the side of each egg and press an olive into it.
  9. Heat broccoli purée over medium heat until just warmed through, 5 minutes. Stir in the florets and the remaining butter. Spoon the gruel into individual soup bowls and top each with an egg eye; serve immediately.
  10. Reprinted with permission from Matthew Mead's Monster Book of Halloween by Matthew Mead, (C) August 2009, Time Inc Home Entertainment

Nutrition Facts

Calories365kcal
Protein22.29%
Fat60.03%
Carbs17.68%

Properties

Glycemic Index
36.83
Glycemic Load
3.29
Inflammation Score
-9
Nutrition Score
29.058260855467%

Flavonoids

Luteolin
1.53mg
Kaempferol
14.82mg
Myricetin
0.12mg
Quercetin
6.17mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:364.5kcal
18.23%
Fat:25.26g
38.86%
Saturated Fat:12.81g
80.06%
Carbohydrates:16.73g
5.58%
Net Carbohydrates:11.23g
4.08%
Sugar:5.13g
5.7%
Cholesterol:240mg
80%
Sodium:677.7mg
29.47%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Alcohol %:0%
100%
Protein:21.11g
42.21%
Vitamin C:169.75mg
205.75%
Vitamin K:194.55µg
185.29%
Selenium:31.27µg
44.68%
Vitamin A:2007.25IU
40.14%
Vitamin B2:0.67mg
39.57%
Phosphorus:395.34mg
39.53%
Calcium:391.54mg
39.15%
Folate:153.71µg
38.43%
Manganese:0.49mg
24.36%
Vitamin B6:0.47mg
23.42%
Fiber:5.5g
22.01%
Potassium:744.56mg
21.27%
Vitamin B5:1.99mg
19.89%
Zinc:2.78mg
18.52%
Vitamin E:2.61mg
17.39%
Vitamin B12:0.97µg
16.23%
Magnesium:58.96mg
14.74%
Vitamin B1:0.2mg
13.11%
Iron:2.25mg
12.51%
Vitamin D:1.43µg
9.54%
Vitamin B3:1.39mg
6.94%
Copper:0.14mg
6.91%
Source:Epicurious