Description
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is a classic Italian pasta dish known for its simplicity and robust flavors. Featuring al dente spaghetti tossed in a fragrant sauce made from golden sautéed garlic, high-quality olive oil, and a touch of crushed red pepper flakes, this recipe delivers a perfect balance of taste and texture. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s an ideal meal for busy weeknights that doesn’t compromise on flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 pound dried spaghetti
Sauce Ingredients
- 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 the spaghetti: Bring a large stockpot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until nearly al dente, about one minute shy of full doneness.
- Prepare the garlic oil: About three minutes after adding the pasta to the 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, taking care not to burn it. If the pasta is not ready when the garlic is golden, remove the pan from the heat to prevent overcooking.
- Toss pasta with garlic oil: As soon as the pasta is ready, use tongs to transfer it directly to the sauté pan with the garlic oil, adding 1/2 cup of the hot starchy pasta water. Continuously toss the pasta to coat it evenly with the garlic oil sauce. If the mixture appears dry, add an additional 1/4 cup of pasta water.
- Season and serve: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning with an extra pinch of salt or crushed red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately while hot, garnished with chopped parsley and freshly grated Parmesan cheese if using.
Notes
- This recipe uses only 4 simple ingredients and can be prepared in 20 minutes, making it a quick and easy meal option.
- Adjust the amount of garlic and crushed red pepper flakes according to your personal taste preferences.
- Be careful not to burn the garlic during sautéing as it can turn bitter.
- Using the starchy pasta water helps to create a silky sauce that clings to the spaghetti perfectly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/5 of recipe)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
