Description
Spaghetti aglio e olio celebrates classic Italian simplicity with minimal ingredients. Hearty pasta coated in rich olive oil and pungent garlic delivers authentic Mediterranean comfort you can savor in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Boiling Preparation: Fill a large pot with water, season generously with salt, and bring to a vigorous boil. Submerge spaghetti and cook according to package instructions, ensuring al dente texture. Reserve a cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- Garlic Infusion: In a spacious skillet, warm olive oil over medium heat. Add thinly sliced garlic, carefully sautéing until it reaches a delicate golden color without burning, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Spice Integration: Scatter red pepper flakes into the aromatic oil, gently stirring to distribute heat and awaken the spice’s robust flavor profile.
- Pasta Coating: Lower heat and transfer drained pasta directly into the fragrant skillet. Toss noodles thoroughly, ensuring complete coverage with garlic-infused oil. Introduce reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky, cohesive sauce.
- Final Seasoning: Fold in freshly chopped parsley, sprinkle salt, and add a subtle crack of black pepper. Mix meticulously to ensure even flavor distribution across the pasta.
- Serving Flourish: Plate immediately, optionally garnishing with a light dusting of Parmesan cheese and a zesty sprinkle of lemon zest to enhance the dish’s aromatic complexity.
Notes
- Prevent Garlic Burning: Watch garlic closely during sautéing to avoid bitter, burnt flavor; golden and fragrant is the perfect color indicator.
- Control Pasta Water Consistency: Reserve pasta water strategically; its starchy nature helps create a smooth, silky sauce that clings perfectly to noodles.
- Master Heat Management: Maintain moderate heat when cooking garlic and pepper flakes to extract maximum flavor without scorching ingredients.
- Customize Spice Levels: Adjust red pepper flakes quantity based on personal heat tolerance; start with a small amount and incrementally increase for desired spiciness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg