Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

If you’ve never fallen in love with a plate of spaghetti before, today might just be the day. This spaghetti aglio e Olio is life-changing. It uses simple ingredients and can be made in less than 15 minutes. It is considered a classic dish in Italian cuisine.

With less than five ingredients, you can create a bowl of delicious pasta in the comfort of your home. So, let’s start by describing the flavour; in your first bite, you will realize a marvellous familiar taste. It reminds me of cheesy, garlicky noodles from instant noodles (a childhood favourite).

However, when you dig into Spaghetti Aglio e olio’s real flavour, you will find it is a sophisticated dish with character and history. If ‘instant cheese noodles‘ represent a mid-twenty Italian man, Spaghetti Aglio e olio is reminiscent of his older brother, who is well-traveled and charming! We shouldn’t compare men to food, but it was a worthy example to differentiate one from the other. And don’t ask me why I thought of instant noodles.

What is Spaghetti Aglio e Olio?

It means spaghetti with garlic and oil. This recipe comes from Naples, Italy. It uses thinly sliced garlic, olive oil, a tiny sprinkle of red pepper flakes, some fresh parsley, and a delicious snowstorm of your favourite cheese. Right now, my favourite is Grana Padano.

What is umami? It’s that flavour you can’t explain, but at the same time, you can’t stop eating because the dish is that good.

So, what makes this dish so decadent and addictive? It’s the Pasta water, of course! Along with the olive oil, caramelized garlic, and red pepper flakes, the pasta water combines with the mentioned ingredients to create an umami taste.

Ingredients

Spaghetti, Red pepper flakes, Pasta Water, Chopped Parsley and Sliced Garlic.

Choose thin, long Spaghetti, the type that is easy to twirl with the fork. Red pepper flakes add a tinge of heat. However, you can also use a lighter red pepper flake, such as gochugaru, which has a fruity taste, or Turkish pul biber, which is very similar to gochugaru.

It depends on how much heat you can handle. Pasta water is the water left over after you’ve cooked the pasta. Make sure to reserve some for the cooking process. It will make your Spaghetti silky soft. Slice the garlic as thinly as possible. The flavour will be intense.

Did you know that in Italy, spaghetti aglio e Olio is used as a secret code between lovers to demonstrate their knowledge of good food?

Instructions

Rinse the garlic in the running water and thinly slice them against the core. 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 cut red chili, red pepper flakes, and sauté for two minutes.

Then, add the cooked spaghetti to the pan with the ingredients. Toss to coat the spaghetti with the spiced oil. Generously sprinkle the Grana Padano cheese, squeeze the fresh lemon, and garnish with roughly chopped parsley to serve.

Expert tips

Use fresh ingredients, especially garlic. When cooked in oil, garlic releases a beautiful aroma, which gives this dish, Aglio e Olio, its true meaning. If you are a garlic lover and also a fan of this dish, you may add 1 or 2 more garlic cloves for enhanced flavour. Control the heat when cooking the garlic. Pasta water helps create a silky sauce. Cook the spaghetti al dente for the best texture in every bite.

What to Serve with Spaghetti Aglio e Olio?

Spaghetti aglio e Olio is an incredibly simple dish to whip up quickly. 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.