Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
If you’ve never fallen in love with spaghetti, today might be the day. This Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is incredible, made with simple ingredients in under 15 minutes.
It’s a classic Italian dish featuring just five components: thinly sliced garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, and a good amount of cheese—mine is Grana Padano. The secret to its addictive taste lies in the pasta water, which combines with olive oil, caramelized garlic, and red pepper flakes to create an irresistible umami flavor. Give it a try; you won’t regret it!
Ingredients
Spaghetti, Red pepper flakes, Pasta Water, Chopped Parsley and Sliced Garlic.
When choosing spaghetti, go for a thin, long variety for easy twirling. For heat, use red pepper flakes. Reserve some pasta water after cooking to create a silky sauce. Slice garlic thinly. Interestingly, in Italy, spaghetti aglio e olio is considered a romantic dish, symbolizing appreciation for good food.
Instructions
Rinse the garlic under running water and thinly slice it. Finely chop the red chili. Roughly chop the parsley. Grate a lot of cheese. Prepare a pot to cook the pasta. Add a pinch of salt and bring it to a boil.
Once the water is boiling, add the spaghetti. Measure the cooking time from the boiling time and cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet. Keep aside ¼ cup of pasta water before draining the pasta. Add oil to the preheated pan on medium-low heat. Add the sliced garlic, thinly sliced red chili, and red pepper flakes, then sauté for 2 minutes.
Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan with the ingredients and toss to coat. Sprinkle generously with Grana Padano cheese, squeeze fresh lemon, and garnish with chopped parsley.
This quick Spaghetti Aglio E Olio takes just 15 minutes to prepare, combining fruity olive oil, chili flakes, caramelized garlic, and freshly grated cheese for a delicious meal. Enjoy!
Expert tips
Use fresh ingredients, especially garlic, as it enhances the aroma of Aglio e Olio. Add extra cloves for more flavor, but watch the heat while cooking. Don’t forget that pasta water is key for a silky sauce. Cook the spaghetti until al dente for the best texture.
What to Serve with Spaghetti Aglio e Olio?
You can pair this dish with a number of different side dishes and salads. Consider the following as great options: Kale Salad, Garlic bread, Grilled Asparagus, or Roasted Brussels sprouts.
How to Store Spaghetti Aglio e Olio?
Avoid storing it; make it fresh. If you have leftovers, reheat them with two tablespoons of water. This recipe is incredibly easy to make and takes a short time to prepare. You can prep your prawns and keep them in freezer bags. Store the sliced garlic in a separate packet in the same manner.
Ingredients
Base ingredients
- 160 grams Spaghetti pasta
- 5 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Or Grapeseed oil
- 1/4 cup Pasta water
- 6 Garlic Cloves – sliced
Spices
- 1 Red Chili Flakes
- 1 Red Chili – thinly sliced
- 3/4 tsp Salt
Garnishes
- 1/4 cup Parsley – roughly chopped
- Grana Padano cheese – grated
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the Spaghetti in a pot of boiling water until al dente. Make sure to add a pinch of salt to the pot. This process takes approximate 8 to 9 minutes. Keep ¼ cup pasta aside.
- Create the Sauce: Preheat the pan on medium low heat and add the oil. Saute the sliced garlic, thinly sliced red chili and red chili flakes for 2 minutes.
- Add Spaghetti to the Sauce: Add the cooked spaghetti into the spiced oil. Also, add ¼ cup pasta water. Cook for 1 minute and continuously toss to coat the spaghetti with spices. Garnish with lemon juice, parsley and Grana Padano cheese to serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 628kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 144mg | Potassium: 285mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 665IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg
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This recipe is so good and makes really delicious pasta!