Let’s break free from the usual brunches and bouquets this Mother’s Day and invite The Babadook into the kitchen. Mental Health Awareness Month and Mother’s Day both occur during May, making it the perfect time to dig into the horror film The Babadook, directed by Jennifer Kent. The story centers around Amelia, a single mother struggling with personal hardships and grief, whose life becomes intertwined with a sinister children’s pop-up book.
A scene from the film shows Amelia harvesting earthworms from her garden to feed the Babadook, which inspired me to create a unique Mother’s Day-themed dish — Babadook Dirt and Worms Bucatini. This horror-themed pasta recipe is perfect for spooky celebrations or a unique Mother’s Day treat. I’ve transformed classic bucatini noodles (that’s a fancy way of saying hollow spaghetti) into a creepy-crawly treat, tossing them in a homemade olive tapenade and garnishing them with parsley, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan to mimic the look of freshly dug earth — deliciously spooky and way tastier than actual dirt and worms! Serve with freshly baked bread and a green salad for a complete meal.
Can’t find bucatini? No problem — simply substitute it with regular spaghetti, udon noodles, or your favorite pasta. You can also shortcut this recipe using store-bought tapenade, but why not go the extra mile with a homemade version to truly impress Mom? Plus, the leftovers are great to serve as an appetizer on crackers!
What Makes This a Killer Recipe
- So Easy, Even a Babadook Could Do It: Use store-bought tapenade or whip up your own in minutes.
- Fast & Inexpensive: This creepy dish comes together quickly and won’t dig in to your wallet.
- Fright Night Favorite: With bucatini resembling worms, this dish will creep out guests at any spooky gathering!
Babadook Dirt & Worms Bucatini
- Prep Time15 min
- Cook Time10 min
- Perform Time10 min
- Total Time35 min
What You Need
Black Olive Tapenade
- One 6-oz can of pitted black olives, drained (170g)
- One clove garlic
- 1 Tbsp capers, drained (7.5g)
- 1 tsp lemon juice (4.8g)
- 1 Tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley (3.8g)
- ⅛ Cup olive oil (28g)
Bucatini
- 8-oz pack of dry bucatini noodles
- Salt
- 8 Cups water (64 oz)
- Gel food coloring in rose, orange, and violet
Other Ingredients
- Reserved pasta water
- ½ Cup Seasoned breadcrumbs (30g)
- Olive oil
- Grated Parmesan
- Chopped flat-leaf parsley
- Crushed red pepper, optional
What To Do
For the Black Olive Tapenade
Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
For the Breadcrumbs
Heat a small amount of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in breadcrumbs, and toast until crispy and browned. Set aside.
For the Bucatini
Cook the bucatini for approximately 9 minutes in salted, boiling water that has been colored with rose, orange, and violet gel food coloring. Drain the bucatini, reserving one Cup of the pasta water.
Return the pasta to the pan. Toss with ½ Cup tapenade, adding a splash of reserved pasta water to help evenly coat the pasta with the tapenade. Transfer to a serving dish and top with toasted seasoned breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, and crushed red pepper (optional). Serve with additional tapenade on the side, if desired.
Choosing The Babadook as a theme for Mother’s Day highlights the often ignored and darker aspects of motherhood. It reminds us of our own horror stories, from the sleepless nights with a newborn to the drama of teenage years and, of course, the daily sacrifices that mothers make. It also reminds us that the wraiths of fear, anxiety, and grief require attention — they cannot simply be ignored (or banished to the basement).
So, as you savor this Babadook Dirt and Worms Bucatini, raise a glass to the moms who face their personal Babadooks every day. Let us celebrate motherhood’s unexpected, unconventional, and sometimes downright scary aspects with a dish as memorable as it is monstrous-looking yet mouthwatering.
Whether you’re hosting a horror movie night or celebrating Mother’s Day, this Babadook Dirt and Worms Bucatini is the perfect spooky pasta recipe to serve.
Pro Tips for a Perfectly “Putrid” Pasta:
- Don’t Overcook the “Worms”: Ensure the bucatini is al dente, so it still has a bite like a slithering worm!
- Add Some Grit: Top with breadcrumbs to create the “dirt” texture and add a satisfying crunch. For extra flavor, toast them with garlic.
What’s for Dessert? A Devilishly Good Treat from ‘Rosemary’s Baby‘
To round out your horror-themed meal, try my Minnie Castevet’s Chocolate Mousse from Rosemary’s Baby. This rich and velvety mousse is the perfect dessert to complement your Babadook Dirt and Worms Bucatini. It’s a treat sinister enough to satisfy the devil himself. Click here for the full recipe.
Join My Ghastly Gastronomic Community
Did you dig this deliciously dark Babadook-inspired dish from The Homicidal Homemaker? Snap a photo, tag #homicidalhomemaker on Instagram, and share what you’ve conjured up in your kitchen. How do you celebrate Mother’s Day with a touch of horror? I’d love to hear your unique ideas and horror-inspired culinary creations!
This Babadook “Worms” in Dirt Bucatini was perfect for my horror movie night! The pasta looked just like worms, and the breadcrumb ‘dirt’ added the best crunch. My friends were freaked out at first but totally loved it after the first bite. Super easy to make and so fun! If you wanna serve something creepy and delicious, you’ve gotta try this. Thanks, Homicidal Homemaker!