Description
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is a classic Italian pasta dish that is simple, flavorful, and quick to prepare. Featuring al dente spaghetti tossed in a fragrant garlic and olive oil sauce with a hint of crushed red pepper flakes, this dish is perfect for a comforting weeknight meal. Garnished with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese, it offers a delightful combination of flavors with minimal ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound dried spaghetti
Sauce
- 1/2 cup good-quality olive oil
- 6 to 8 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or more, to taste)
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large stockpot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until nearly al dente, about one minute less than the package instructions indicate.
- Sauté Garlic and Peppers: Approximately three minutes after adding pasta to boiling water, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Sauté gently for 3 to 5 minutes until the garlic turns lightly golden, making sure it does not burn. If the pasta is not ready when the garlic is done, remove the pan from heat to prevent burning.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Once the pasta is cooked, use tongs to transfer it directly into the sauté pan with the garlic and oil. Add 1/2 cup of the hot starchy pasta water. Continuously toss the pasta to coat it evenly in the garlic oil sauce. If the sauce seems too dry, add another 1/4 cup of pasta water as needed.
- Season and Serve: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning by adding more salt or crushed red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately while hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and freshly-grated Parmesan cheese if preferred.
Notes
- This recipe is quick and easy, made with only a few simple ingredients.
- Adjust the amount of garlic and crushed red pepper flakes according to your taste preferences.
- Use high-quality olive oil for the best flavor.
- Be careful not to burn the garlic as it will turn bitter.
- Adding starchy pasta water helps the sauce cling to the noodles and improves texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/5 of recipe)
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
