Description
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is a simple yet flavorful Italian pasta dish featuring spaghetti tossed in a garlicky olive oil sauce with a hint of crushed red pepper flakes. This classic recipe is quick to make, requiring minimal ingredients but delivering maximum taste, perfect for a comforting meal ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients
- 1 pound dried spaghetti
- 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
- Boil Pasta: Bring a large stockpot of generously-salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until nearly al dente, about just one minute shy of being fully cooked.
- Sauté Garlic and Pepper Flakes: Approximately 3 minutes after adding the pasta, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until the garlic turns lightly golden and fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic; if the pasta isn’t ready yet, remove the pan from heat to prevent burning.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Once the pasta is ready, use tongs to transfer it directly to the sauté pan along with 1/2 cup of the hot starchy pasta water. Toss continuously to coat the spaghetti evenly in the garlic-infused oil. If the sauce appears dry, add an additional 1/4 cup of pasta water to loosen it up.
- Season and Serve: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning with extra salt or crushed red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately while hot, garnished with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if using.
Notes
- This classic Spaghetti Aglio e Olio recipe is quick and easy, made with just 4 simple ingredients and ready in 20 minutes.
- Adjust the amount of garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to suit your personal spice and flavor preferences.
- Use good-quality olive oil for the best flavor outcome.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
