Description
A foolproof, pantry-friendly Italian classic made with just five ingredients. This quick dinner features golden garlic, spicy olive oil, and perfectly cooked spaghetti, ready in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225g) Spaghetti
- 1/2 cup (120ml) Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 6–8 cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
- 1–2 teaspoons Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/2 cup (50g) Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
- Salt (for pasta water)
Instructions
- Slice the garlic cloves thinly and set aside on a plate.
- Fill a large pot with water, add a generous amount of salt (about 1 tablespoon per quart), and bring to a rolling boil.
- While the water heats, pour olive oil into a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes.
- Stir gently and cook the garlic for 5-7 minutes until it turns golden blonde and smells nutty. Do not let it burn.
- Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook until al dente, checking 1 minute early. Before draining, scoop out 1 cup of starchy pasta water and set aside.
- Transfer the hot pasta directly to the skillet with the garlic oil. Do not rinse the pasta.
- Add a splash of reserved pasta water (start with 1/4 cup) and toss vigorously with tongs to emulsify the oil and water into a creamy sauce.
- Remove the skillet from heat. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the top and toss again until melted.
- Taste and adjust salt if needed. Serve immediately with extra red pepper flakes and a drizzle of fresh olive oil.
Notes
Watch the garlic closely as it burns easily; keep heat on medium-low. Use starchy pasta water to emulsify the sauce. Serve immediately as pasta continues to absorb sauce. Do not freeze leftovers as texture suffers.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate per serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 12
Keywords: pasta aglio e olio, garlic pasta, italian dinner, easy pasta recipe, 5 ingredient dinner, vegetarian pasta, weeknight dinner, simple recipes